Kenya Judgment

High Court · High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)

Alex Gitonga Mwongera v Joseph Kamakia [2017] KEHC 6755 (KLR)

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Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The court found that the issue of interest was neither raised nor argued on appeal, nor was it a ground of appeal. As such, the judgment's silence on the award of interest did not constitute an error apparent on the face of the record. The court held that it could not review or rectify its judgment to address matters that were not before it during the appeal. Consequently, the application for review was without merit and was dismissed with costs to the respondent.

Court disposition

application dismissed

Orders

  • The motion dated 22nd June 2016 is dismissed in its entirety with costs to the respondent.

02

Material facts

Parties

Alex Gitonga Mwongera

Appellant

Joseph Kamakia

Respondent

Amounts and remedies

  • Special Damages Claimed: KES 98,167.5
  • General Damages Claimed: KES 360,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Review of Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant argued that the court's judgment delivered on 1st April 2016 failed to specify whether interest on the decretal sum was awarded, the date from which such interest should accrue, and the applicable interest rate. The appellant contended that this omission constituted an error apparent on the face of the record, warranting review and correction to accord with the prayers in the memorandum of appeal.
Respondent
The respondent opposed the motion, asserting that the claim for interest was never canvassed before the court on appeal and was not awarded by the trial court. The respondent argued that since interest was not one of the grounds of appeal, the judgment's silence on interest was proper and there was no error or omission on the face of the record.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Order 45 of the Civil Procedure Rules

    A court may review its judgment only if there is an error apparent on the face of the record or for other sufficient reason.

  2. 02

    General principles of appellate procedure

    Issues not raised or canvassed on appeal cannot be the basis for review or rectification of a judgment.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court found that the issue of interest was neither raised nor argued on appeal, nor was it a ground of appeal. As such, the judgment's silence on the award of interest did not constitute an error apparent on the face of the record. The court held that it could not review or rectify its judgment to address matters that were not before it during the appeal. Consequently, the application for review was without merit and was dismissed with costs to the respondent.

Court disposition

application dismissed

  • The motion dated 22nd June 2016 is dismissed in its entirety with costs to the respondent.

Source and reliance status

High Court

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Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

High Court

Judgment

[2017] KEHC 6755 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 675 “A” OF 2012

ALEX GITONGA MWONGERA........................................... APPELLANT

-V E R S U S –

JOSEPH KAMAKIA......................................................... RESPONDENT

RULING

1) The subject matter of this ruling is the motion dated 22nd June 2016 taken out by appellant in which he sought for the following orders interalia:-

1. THAT this application be certified as urgent and be heard ex-parte in the first instance.

2. THAT this honourable court be pleased to correct, vary, review and/or rectify its judgement delivered on 1st April 2016 to accord with the prayers sought in the memorandum of appeal filed in court on 10th December 2012 and make a finding on whether interest on special damages in the sum of kshs.98,167. 50 and general damages in the sum of kshs.360,000. 00 is payable to the appellant.

3. THAT this honourable court be pleased to interpret and rule on the issues of interest payable to the appellant herein, on the decretal amount.

4. THAT the honourable court, be pleased to rule on when time starts to run on the issue of interest payable to the appellant.

5. THAT the cost of this application be provided for.

2) The motion is supported by the affidavit of Patrick Kimathi Muchema. When served Joseph Kamakia, the respondent herein filed the replying affidavit of Sophie Chirchir to oppose the motion. When the motion came up for interpartes hearing, learned counsels recorded a consent order to have the motion disposed of by written submissions.

3) I have considered the grounds stated on the face of the motion and the facts deponed in the affidavits filed in support and against the application. I have also considered the rival submissions. The appellant/applicant come before this court claiming that there is an error apparent on the face of record which this court should correct by way of review. It is said that this court delivered its judgment on 1st April 2016 and failed to specify whether interest on the decretal sum was awarded to the appellant. It is also argued that the date from which such interest was to accrue or the applicable interest rate.

4)The respondent strenuously opposed the motion arguing that the claim for interest was never canvassed before this court on appeal and in any case the same was not given by the trial court. I have carefully deliberated over the arguments and I am persuaded by the respondent’s arguments that the motion cannot stand because the issue touching on interest was never argued on appeal. It was never one of the grounds of appeal and that is why the judgement of this court is silent on interest. I therefore find no error nor omission on the face or record.

5) Consequently, the motion dated 22nd June 2016 is found to be without merit. It is dismissed in its entirety with costs to the respondent.

Dated, Signed and Delivered in open court this 10th day of March, 2017.

J. K. SERGON

JUDGE

In the presence of:

.............................................................. for the Appellant

............................................................... for the Respondent

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Order 45 of the Civil Procedure Rules

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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