[2014] KEHC 5738 (KLR)
The court found that Busia PMCC No. 212 of 2008 and the present case involve the same subject matter, similar prayers, and substantially the same parties. Consolidation of these two cases would promote expeditious hearing and ensure that related issues are determined in a single proceeding, thereby avoiding...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEHC 5738 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Alfred Juma Maloba; Defendant: Xavier Maswere; Defendant: Simon Kanyere; Defendant: Bonface Esgere
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Busia
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 23 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Consolidation of Suits
- Outcome
- Application partly allowed.
- Legal Topics
- Consolidation of Suits, Joinder of Parties, Case Management
- 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
Alfred Juma Maloba
Plaintiff
Xavier Maswere
Defendant
Simon Kanyere
Defendant
Bonface Esgere
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Consolidation of Suits
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Busia PMCC No. 212 of 2008 should be consolidated with this case for hearing and determination.
- 2 Whether Busia HCC No. 6 of 2009 should be consolidated with this case or heard separately.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that Busia PMCC No. 212 of 2008 and the present case involve the same subject matter, similar prayers, and substantially the same parties. Consolidation of these two cases would promote expeditious hearing and ensure that related issues are determined in a single proceeding, thereby avoiding duplication and the risk of conflicting judgments. However, the court noted that Busia HCC No. 6 of 2009 appears to involve different prayers and, in the absence of pleadings, there was insufficient basis to consolidate it with the other two cases. Therefore, only Busia PMCC No. 212 of 2008 was consolidated with the present case, while Busia HCC No. 6 of 2009 would proceed separately.
Court Disposition
Application partly allowed.
Orders
- Busia PMCC No. 212 of 2008 is consolidated with this case for hearing and determination.
- Costs of the application will be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT BUSIA.
CIVIL CASE NO. 23 OF 2012.
ALFRED JUMA MALOBA..............................................PLAINTIFF
=VERSUS=
1. XAVIER MASWERE
2. SIMON KANYERE
3. BONFACE ESGERE..............................................DEFENDANTS.
R U L I N G.
SIMON KANYERE, who is the 2nd Defendant and is hereinafter referred to as the Applicant, filed the Notice of Motion dated 19th November, 2013 through M/S. Bogonko, Otanga & co. Advocates. He prays for an order consolidating Busia HCC. No. 6 of 2009 and Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 with this case.The application is supported by the affidavit sworn by Boaz Otanga Otieno on 19th November, 2013. The application is opposed by Alfred Juma Maloba, hereinafter referred to as the Respondent, through the replying affidavit sworn by his advocates, Wycliffe Obwoge Onsongo on 24th December, 2013.
The 1st and 3rd defendants did not file any papers either opposing or supporting the said application. They also did not attend the court during the hearing. When the matter came up for hearing, on 4th March, 2014, Mr. Otanga and Mr. Onsongo made lengthy submissions for and against the application,on behalf of the Applicant and Respondent respectively. The court has carefully considered the supporting and replying affidavits plus the submissions by both counsel and come to the following findings;
1. That the subject matter in Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 and this particular case is the same.
2. That the prayers in the Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 and this particular case are more or less the same.
3. That the Applicant and his two co- defendants in this case are among the four defendants in Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008.
4. That the Plaintiff in Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 was the registered owner of the suit property before she transferred the same to the plaintiff in this particular case.
5. That even though copies of the pleadings in Busia HCC. No. 6 of 2009 were not availed before this court by any of the parties, the information provided to the court during submissions by counsel suggests that the prayers in that suit are different from the prayers in Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 and this case.
That having found as above, the court finds that it would be fair and just that Busia PMCC. No.212 of 2008 be consolidated with this case so as to ensure the two matters are heard expeditiously and issues therein decided in the same file as they are related. The court also finds that Busia HCC. No. 6 of 2009 should continue to be heard on its own for the reasons shown above. The court therefore issues the following orders;-
a. That Busia PMCC. No. 212 of 2008 be and is hereby consolidated with this case for hearing and determination.
b. That the cost of this application will be in the cause.
It is so ordered.
S. M. KIBUNJA,
JUDGE.
DATED AND DELIVERED ON DAY OF 31ST OF MARCH, 2014.
IN THE PRESENCE OF;
JUDGE.