[2020] KEELC 3878 (KLR)
The court found that the 1st defendant had admitted liability for the sum of Kshs. 20,000,000 in the settlement agreement, but had already paid Kshs. 13,900,000, leaving a balance of Kshs. 6,100,000. The court held that judgment on admission for the full Kshs. 20,000,000 was not justified as substantial payment had...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEELC 3878 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Abdulrahman Farah Osman (Administrator of the estate of Virginia Muthoni Kabuu, Deceased); Defendant: Julius Kangara Ndegwa; Defendant: The County Land Registrar, Nairobi; Defendant: The Attorney General; Defendant: The County Government of Nairobi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 474 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Judgment on Admission And/or Striking Out Defence
- Outcome
- application partially allowed
- Judges
- LC Komingoi
- Legal Topics
- Judgment on Admission, Settlement Agreements, Enforcement of Settlement, Interest on Judgment Debt, Striking Out Defence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Abdulrahman Farah Osman (Administrator of the estate of Virginia Muthoni Kabuu, Deceased)
Plaintiff
Julius Kangara Ndegwa
Defendant
The County Land Registrar, Nairobi
Defendant
The Attorney General
Defendant
The County Government of Nairobi
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Judgment on Admission And/or Striking Out Defence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether judgment on admission should be entered against the 1st defendant for Kshs. 20,000,000 plus interest as per the settlement agreement.
- 2 Whether the 1st defendant's statement of defence should be struck out and judgment entered for the plaintiff as per the plaint.
- 3 Whether the 1st defendant is liable to pay the outstanding balance and interest as agreed.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the 1st defendant had admitted liability for the sum of Kshs. 20,000,000 in the settlement agreement, but had already paid Kshs. 13,900,000, leaving a balance of Kshs. 6,100,000. The court held that judgment on admission for the full Kshs. 20,000,000 was not justified as substantial payment had been made. Instead, the court ordered the 1st defendant to pay the outstanding balance of Kshs. 6,100,000 within ninety days, with interest at 20% per annum as per the agreement, failing which the plaintiff would be at liberty to execute. The court also ordered the 1st defendant to bear the costs of the application.
Court Disposition
application partially allowed
Orders
- The 1st defendant is directed to pay the plaintiff Kshs. 6,100,000 within ninety (90) days from the date of the ruling.
- In default of payment, the plaintiff is at liberty to proceed with execution.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
40 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT NAIROBI
ELC CIVIL SUIT NO. 474 OF 2014
ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN
suing as the Administrator of the estate of
Virginia Muthoni Kabuu (Deceased)..........................................................PLAINTIFF
=VERSUS=
JULIUS KANGARA NDEGWA.......................................................1ST DEFENDANT
THE COUNTY LAND REGISTRAR, NAIROBI..........................2ND DEFENDANT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.........................................................3RD DEFENDANT
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NAIROBI...........................4TH DEFENDANT
RULING
1. This is the notice of motion dated 28th September 2016 brought under order 13 rule 2 and order 51 rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules, Section 1A, 1B, 3, 3A of the Civil Procedure Act.
2. It seeks orders:-
(1) That this honourable court be pleased to enter judgment on admission against the 1st defendant/respondent for the sum of Kenya Shillings twenty Million (Kshs.20,000,000) plus interest at the rate of 20% p.a accruing from 17th May 2016.
(2) That in the alternative to prayer 1 above, this honourable court be pleased to strike out the 1st defendant’s statement of defence dated 12th May 2015 and consequently enter judgment against the defendant in the main suit as per the plaint.
(3) That the costs of this application and the suit be borne by the 1st defendant/respondent.
3. The grounds are on the face of the applicant and are set out in paragraphs 1 to 4.
4. The application is supported by the affidavit of Abdulrahman Farah Osman the plaintiff/applicant sworn on the 28th September 2016 and a supplementary affidavit sworn on the 5th April 2017.
5. The application is opposed. There is a replying affidavit sworn by Julius Kangara Ndegwa, the 1st defendant/respondent sworn on the 10th March 2017.
6. The court, with the consent of the parties directed that the application be canvassed by way of written submissions.
7. I have considered the notice of motion, the affidavits in support and the annexures. I have also considered the replying affidavit and the written submissions made on behalf of the parties. The issue for determination is whether this application is merited.
8. By settlement agreement dated 10th September 2015, the plaintiff/applicant and the 1st defendant/respondent agreed in part:-
“2. 1 in full and final settlement of the suits as against the defendant, the defendant agrees to pay the plaintiff the sum of shillings Twenty Million (20,000,000) as follows:-
2. 1.1 Kenya Shilings Ten Million (Kshs.10,000,000) shall be paid in the first week of October 2015 (ready by 7th October 2015).
2. 1.2 Kenya shillings Ten Million (Kshs.10,000,000) shall be paid by 31st December 2015.
2. 1.3 Any amount outstanding after 17th May 2016 shall accrue interest at the rate of 20% p.a”
9. It is not in dispute that the 1st defendant/respondent has so far paid Kshs.13,900,000/- leaving a balance of Kshs.6,100,000/-. This amount shall accrue interest at 20% p.a as per the agreement. This court cannot therefore enter judgment on admission for Kshs.20,000,000/- as sought by the plaintiff/applicant in this application.
10. As stated earlier, the 1st defendant/respondent has already paid a substantial amount towards settlement. In order to bring this matter to conclusion the 1st defendant/respondent is hereby directed to pay the plaintiff/applicant Kshs.6,100,000 within ninety (90) days from the date of this ruling in default the plaintiff/applicant be at liberty to proceed with execution. The 1st defendant/respondent shall bear the costs of this application.
It is so ordered.
Dated, signed and delivered in Nairobi on this 23rd day of January 2020.
……………………….
L. KOMINGOI
JUDGE
In the presence of:-
Mr. Mungai for Mrs Koyugira for the Plaintiff
Ms Olung the 1st Defendants
Mr. Mokua for the 4th defendant
Kajuju - Court Assistant