[2018] KEHC 5183 (KLR)
The Court held that the arbitral award, having been adopted as a judgment, is binding and enforceable unless set aside or stayed. The Respondents' failure to comply with the judgment and the absence of any stay order from the appellate court means the Applicant is entitled to enforcement. The Court further found...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 5183 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Benson Kakai Namisi; Applicant: Johnson Mukasa Namisi; Respondent: Stufford Mukasa Namisi; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application 213 of 2004
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Enforcement of Arbitral Award
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- BN Olao
- Legal Topics
- Enforcement of Arbitral Award, Land Subdivision, Transfer of Land Title, Execution of Judgment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Benson Kakai Namisi
Applicant
Johnson Mukasa Namisi
Applicant
Stufford Mukasa Namisi
Respondent
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Enforcement of Arbitral Award
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Respondents should be compelled to transfer seven acres from land parcels NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and 1118 to the Applicant as per the arbitral award adopted as judgment.
- 2 Whether the Deputy Registrar and Land Registrar can be authorized to execute transfer documents in default of Respondents' compliance.
- 3 Whether the pending appeal and absence of stay order affect the enforceability of the judgment.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that the arbitral award, having been adopted as a judgment, is binding and enforceable unless set aside or stayed. The Respondents' failure to comply with the judgment and the absence of any stay order from the appellate court means the Applicant is entitled to enforcement. The Court further found that it has the authority to direct the Deputy Registrar and Land Registrar to execute the necessary documents to effectuate the transfer and subdivision of the land in accordance with the award. The Respondents' mere reference to a pending appeal, without a stay, does not bar the Applicant from seeking enforcement. The application was unopposed, and the Court saw no legal...
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Respondents to carve out and transfer seven acres from land parcels NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1118 to the Applicant within thirty days.
- In default, the Land Surveyor and Land Registrar Bungoma to demarcate and register seven acres in the Applicant's name, with the Applicant meeting relevant fees.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
MISC. CIVIL APPLICATION NO.213 OF 2004
BENSON KAKAI NAMISI....................................................1ST APPLICANT
JOHNSON MUKASA NAMISI…........................................2ND APPLICANT
VERSUS
STUFFORD MUKASA NAMISI.......................................1ST RESPONDENT
REPUBLIC..........................................................................2ND RESPONDENT
RULING
The dispute between the Parties herein was on 17th March 2015 referred to arbitration by consent of the Parties. An award was subsequently filed in Court on 15th June 2015 and read to the Parties on 17th June 2015. An application by the Plaintiffs to have the said award reviewed was dismissed with costs by MUKUNYA J in a ruling delivered on 29th September 2016. The Judge also entered judgement in terms of the said award.
The record shows that on 20th December 2016 the Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Motion seeking a stay of execution of that decree pending the hearing and determination of COURT OF APPEAL CIVIL APPEAL NO.108 of 2016 pending a KISUMU arising out of the Orders issued by MUKUNYA J on 29th September 2016. That application is yet to be canvassed to-date.
I now have before me the application by STUFFORD MUKASA NAMISI (the Applicant herein), seeking the main order that the Respondent do sign the transfer forms and provide all the necessary documentation to enable the transfer of seven(7) acres out of land parcel NO. NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and 1118 to the Applicant in terms of the award which was made a judgement of this Court on 15th June 2015 and in default, the Deputy Registrar of this Court be authorized to sign the said documents on behalf of the Respondents. The Applicant further seeks orders that the Respondents be compelled to sub-divide the said land as per the said award and in default, the District Land Surveyor Bungoma and the Land Registrar be ordered to do so.
The application is based on the grounds set out therein and is also supported by the Applicant’s affidavit dated 13th November 2017.
The gravamen of the application is that following the adoption of the award as a judgement of this Court in the ruling by MUKUNYA J delivered on 15th June 2015, the Respondents have refused to transfer seven(7) acres out of land parcels NO. NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and 118 to the Applicant as ordered and the Land Registrar has also refused to comply.
I have perused the award that was adopted as a judgement of this Court by MUKUNYA J. It reads as follows in the paragraph that is relevant to this application:
(b) “That all factors standing, the title deed NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1118 respectively be cancelled by the Honourable Court. The new title deeds to be issued in three portions as stated below:
Mr. JOHNSON MUKASA NAMISI – 14. 5 Acres
Mr. BESON KAKAI NAMISI – 12. 5 Acres
Mr. STUFFORD MUKASA NAMISI – 7. 0 Acres
(c). That a Government Surveyor be engaged to apportion the land.”
That award is now a judgment of this Court and must be complied with until set aside on appeal or review. That has not been done. Indeed a decree ought to have followed but that appears not to have been done. The application is not opposed and when it came up before me on 2nd July 2018, Mr. KUNDU for the Respondents drew my attention to the pending appeal in the Court of Appeal. That Appeal cannot, in the absence of any Orders of stay, prevent the Applicant from prosecuting his application which, as I have already indicated above, is not opposed as the Respondents have not filed any replying affidavit or grounds of opposition thereto.
In the circumstances, the Applicant’s Notice of Motion dated 13th November 2017 is hereby allowed in the following terms:
1. The Respondents to curve from land parcels NO. NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1117 and NDIVISI/NDIVISI/1118 seven(7) acres to be transferred to the Applicant within thirty(30) days of this ruling.
2. In default, the Land Surveyor and Land Registrar Bungoma to demarcate the said land and register seven(7) acres in the names of the Applicant who shall meet the relevant fees.
3. Should the Respondents refuse to sign the transfer and other relevant documents, the Deputy Registrar of this Court shall be at liberty to do so on their behalf.
4. No Order as to costs.
BOAZ N. OLAO
JUDGE
19TH JULY 2018
Ruling dated, delivered and signed in open Court this 19th day of July 2018 at Bungoma.
1st Respondent present
Applicant absent
2nd Respondent absent
BOAZ N. OLAO
JUDGE
19TH JULY 2018