[2023] KEHC 18926 (KLR)

Baobab Beach Resort & Spa v Mbugua & 2 others (Civil Appeal 158 of 2021) [2023] KEHC 18926 (KLR) (10 May 2023) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 18926 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Mombasa

Civil Appeal 158 of 2021

DKN Magare, J

May 10, 2023

Between

Baobab Beach Resort & Spa

Appellant

and

Philip Mbugua

1st Respondent

Judy Atieno

2nd Respondent

Silvester Mbandi

3rd Respondent

Judgment

1. This judgment relates to the following civil appeals, that is 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163 and 164 of 2021. They relate to a simple issue of consolidation and joining of the defendant’s employer, as a party.

2. The appellant, upon learning that its former employer had sued its other employees, made an application to the court to be joined and the matters be consolidated.

3. The matter was heard by honorable JM Omido and dismissed on September 22, 2021.

4. The prayers that had been sought in the lower court are: -1. Spent.2. Spent3. Spent4. This honorable court be pleased to order that Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, the applicant herein, be enjoined as a 3rd defendant in this suit.5. The honorable court be pleased to order the plaintiff to serve the applicant with all pleadings filed and the applicant be at liberty to file pleadings in responses thereto within such time frame as the court may direct.6. Costs of this application be provided.

Duty of the Court 5. The duty of the 1st appellant court was settled long ago by Clement De Lestang, VP, Duffus and Law JJA, in the locusclassicus case of Selle and another vs Associated Motor Board Company and others [1968] EA 123, where the law looks in its usual gusto, held by as follows; -“An appeal from the High Court is by way of re-trial and the Court of Appeal is not bound to follow the trial court’s finding of fact if it appears either that he failed to take account of particular circumstances or probabilities or if the impression of demeanour of a witness is inconsistent with the evidence generally.”

6. The court is to bear in mind now that it has not seen the witnesses. It is the trial court that has observed the demeanor and truthfulness of those witnesses. However, the documents still speak for themselves. The observation of documents is the same as the lower court as parties cannot read into those documents matters extrinsic to them.

7. InFidelity & Commercial Bank Ltd v Kenya Grange Vehicle Industries Ltd (2017) eKLR, the Court of Appeal, Ouko, Kiage and Murgor JJA held as doth;-“Courts adopt the objective theory of contract interpretation and profess to have overriding view sometimes called four corners of an instrument, which insists that a documents meaning should be derived from the document itself, without reference to anything outside of the document, extrinsic reversed…”

8. The trial court and this court will construct documents in a similar manner as there are no witnesses required to know the content of a document.

9. I have noted that the parties were dealing with “enjoying” a party. I take to it that they were applying for joinder or joining of the appellant to the suit.

10. The court correctly analyzed the law that is applicable, that is order 1 rule 10and the case of Card/Construction Engineers =vs= Naomi Chepkoriri Langat (2019) eKLR, where Justice Sila Munyao held as doth: -“I have considered the matter. The application seeks joinder of the three mentioned persons as co- defendants. It should be remembered that this is a suit filed by the plaintiff seeking reliefs against the applicant who is sued as defendant.The person who is seeking the joinder of additional defendants is the defendant in the matter. What this means is that if the application is allowed then KCB, Ms Martha and Mr Langat will be defendants, but the plaintiff in this matter has no claims or complaint whatsoever against the parties sought to be introduced as defendants. We will end up having an absurd situation where there are defendants in the matter but who the plaintiff has nothing against.”

11. However, the court failed to fathom that the cause of action was allegations made by employees of Baobab Resort & Spa to their employer. The allegations related to issues of sexual harassment by the 1st respondent.

12. The 1st respondent by that time was a Deputy General Manager of the appellant.

13. The appellant is enjoined by law, to ensure and protect its workers from sexual harassment. The alleged publication was said to be to the appellant, by each of the defendants. The 1st respondent stood in a position of authority while the other respondents appear to be hapless junior workers. Order 1 rule 5 provides as doth: -“It shall not be necessary that every defendant shall be interested as to all relief claimed in any suit against him.”

14. My understanding is that the 2nd and 3rd respondents in each of the appeals.

15. The upshot is that the court, below erred in fact and in law in finding that Baobab Beach Resort is not a necessary party.

16. I therefore set aside the entire ruling and in lieu thereof, substitute with an order allowing the application with costs to the intended 3rd defendant.

Determination 17. I allow the appeal in terms of;a.Orders given in HCCA No 165 of 2021. b.Each party to bear its costs in this matter.

DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT MOMBASA ON THIS 10TH DAY OF MAY, 2023. Judgment delivered through Microsoft Teams Online Platform.KIZITO MAGAREJUDGEIn the presence of:Mr. Karina for the AppellantNo appearance for the RespondentCourt Assistant - FIRDAUS