[2024] KEELRC 2336 (KLR)
The court found that the notice to show cause was served to the email addresses provided by the claimant's advocates, as confirmed by the affidavit of service. However, in the interests of justice and to secure the rights of the parties, the court exercised its discretion to set aside the dismissal order. The court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEELRC 2336 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Levi Muyonga Amudala; Respondent: African Bush And Beach Adventures; Respondent: Kerstin Amudala Nee Kerstin Geyer
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Employment and Labour Relations Cause E007 of 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Review Application / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Suit
- Outcome
- application allowed; suit reinstated
- Judges
- M Mbarũ
- Legal Topics
- Reinstatement of Suit, Dismissal for Non Attendance, Service of Process, Unfair Termination, Review of Court Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Levi Muyonga Amudala
Applicant
African Bush And Beach Adventures
Respondent
Kerstin Amudala Nee Kerstin Geyer
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Suit
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the dismissal of the suit for want of attendance should be reviewed and set aside.
- 2 Whether the suit should be reinstated for hearing and determination on the merits.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the notice to show cause was served to the email addresses provided by the claimant's advocates, as confirmed by the affidavit of service. However, in the interests of justice and to secure the rights of the parties, the court exercised its discretion to set aside the dismissal order. The court emphasized that while failure to attend court is a serious lapse, the overriding objective is to determine matters on their merits. Therefore, the application to review and set aside the dismissal was allowed, and the suit was reinstated for hearing. Costs were ordered to abide by the outcome of the claim.
Court Disposition
application allowed; suit reinstated
Orders
- The orders dismissing the suit are set aside.
- The suit is reinstated for hearing and determination on the merits.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
Amudala v Adventures & another (Employment and Labour Relations Cause E007 of 2024) [2024] KEELRC 2336 (KLR) (26 September 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEELRC 2336 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Mombasa
Employment and Labour Relations Cause E007 of 2024
M Mbarũ, J
September 26, 2024
Between
Levi Muyonga Amudala
Claimant
and
African Bush And Beach Adventures
1st Respondent
Kerstin Amudala Nee Kerstin Geyer
2nd Respondent
Ruling
1. The claimant filed an application dated 2nd July 2024 seeking an order that the orders issued on 20 May 2024 be reviewed and varied the order dismissing the suit be set aside and the suit be reinstated.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of the claimant and because he filed the claim on 9 February 2024 following the unfair termination of employment. Summons issued and the respondents filed a response and the matter was allocated a hearing date for 20 may 2024 without the knowledge of the claimant. Upon enquiry at the registry on 22 May 2024 it was discovered that the matter was in court and dismissed for want of attendance and prosecution.
3. The notice to show cause issued by the court was not received. The postal address through which the notice issued does not belong to the claimant or his advocates.
4. In the interests of justice, the claimant is seeking the orders dismissing his claim be set aside and the suit be reinstated for hearing and determination on the merits.
5. In reply, the respondents filed the Replying Affidavit of the 2nd respondent who aver that the application is filed in abuse of court process after failing to attend court to prosecute his case. The failure to attend court when required is a clear demonstration that there is no interest in this case. On 19 March 2024 the claimant attended court to fix the matter for hearing but elected not to inform the respondents. A hearing date was allocated for 12 April 2024 and no notice issued. The claimant failed to follow up and on the issued notice to show cause, there was no attendance leading to dismissal of the suit.
6. Ms. Gever aver that the claimant has not demonstrated any interest in this case to justify the grant of the orders sought and the application should be dismissed with costs.
7. Both parties attended court and made oral submissions. These submissions are analysis and the issues which emerge for determination are whether the orders dismissing the suit herein should be reviewed and whether the suit should be reinstated for hearing and determination.
8. The claimant filed this claim on 9 February 2024. He was issued with a date at the registrar to attend on 12 April 2024 to fix a hearing date. He did not attend court as directed and a notice to show cause issued for 20 May 2024 where the claimant remained absent and the respondents were in court repressed by their advocate.
9. The claimant’s case is that the notice to show cause was delivered to the wrong address.
10. In the Memorandum of Claim, the address of service is M/s Ngonze & Ngonze Advocates and the email address is legalmsa@ngonze.com or ngonze.legal@gmail.com
11. The Notice to Show Cause was served by the court through legalmsa@ngonze.com and ngonze.legal@gmail.com to the claimant and to luvunoadvo@gmail.com for the respondent.
12. There is an Affidavit of Service filed to confirm service of the Notice.
13. The claimant through his advocates has continued to use the same addresses as used by the court to effect service through legalmsa@ngonze.com and ngonze.legal@gmail.com
14. The failure to attend court as directed is a serious lapse on the part of a party particularly the claimant who filed this claim seeking justice. To stall and fail to attend as required only negates the justice sought in the first instance. The pleadings are filed and addressed for service to ensure each party receives the necessary information for the suit and once served, there is a duty to attend diligently and as required.
15. In this case, the issue of whether the Notice to Show Cause dated 29 April 2024 addressed above, the court will not unnecessarily punish the claimant and in the interest of justice, to secure the rights of the parties, orders dismissing the suit herein are set aside.
16. Application dated 2 July 2024 is allowed and the suit herein reinstated. Hearing to proceed on the merits. Costs to abide by the outcome of the claim.
DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT AT MOMBASA THIS 26 DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024. M. MBARŨJUDGEIn the presence of:Court Assistant: Japhet……………………………………………… and …………………………………………