[2012] KEHC 1747 (KLR)
The High Court held that the central issue on appeal was whether a director should be made personally liable for the debt of a limited liability company. The court had already exercised its discretion to order security for costs in the sum of Ksh. 200,000/-, to be paid within 30 days. Given the circumstances and the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] KEHC 1747 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: BONAR (E.A) LIMITED; Appellant: STEPHEN REUBEN KARUNDITU; Appellant: ELIUD NJOROGE; Respondent: ASHUT ENGINEERS LTD
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 144 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Further Security Pending Appeal
- Outcome
- Application for further security on the decretal sum dismissed; security for costs of Ksh. 200,000/- to be provided within 30 days.
- Legal Topics
- Execution of Judgments, Security for Costs, Director Liability, Company Debts
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
BONAR (E.A) LIMITED
Appellant
STEPHEN REUBEN KARUNDITU
Appellant
ELIUD NJOROGE
Appellant
ASHUT ENGINEERS LTD
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Further Security Pending Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether a director of a limited liability company can be made personally liable for the company debt in execution proceedings.
- 2 Whether further security on the decretal sum should be ordered in addition to security for costs.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court held that the central issue on appeal was whether a director should be made personally liable for the debt of a limited liability company. The court had already exercised its discretion to order security for costs in the sum of Ksh. 200,000/-, to be paid within 30 days. Given the circumstances and the nature of the appeal, the court found it unnecessary and inappropriate to require further security for the decretal sum. The court emphasized that the security for costs already ordered was sufficient protection for the respondent, and no additional security would be imposed.
Court Disposition
Application for further security on the decretal sum dismissed; security for costs of Ksh. 200,000/- to be provided within 30 days.
Orders
- Security for costs of Ksh. 200,000/- to be paid within 30 days as of 11th July 2012.
- No further security for the decretal sum is required.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
65 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
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Editorial Summary
1. Civil Appeal
2. Civil Practice & Procedure
3. Subject of Subordinate Court case
EXECUTION PROCEEDINGS
3. 1 Appellant/applicant, Director of
limited liability company.
3. 2 Hon. Magistrate examines directions as to
assist of company but makes director personally
liable for debt.
3. 3 Applicant appeals and applies by application
26th March 2011 for stay of execution.
3. 4 High Court grants the application for stay
of execution.
3. 5 Issue of security of costs made condition to
be deposited and paid within 30 days by applicant
of Ksh. 200,000/- in an interest earning account
in names of both advocate.
3. 6 Issue of decretal sum. Whether security be
placed?
4. Held:
4. 1 Security on the decretal sum would not be made
due to the circumstances of case before court.
5. Case Law:
6. Advocates:
i) T.W. Gaita instructed by M/s Gaita Co Advocates for
appellant/original defendant
ii) T.K. Mbaabu & M/s T.K. Kariba Mbaabu Co Advocates for
respondent /original defendant
BONAR (E.A) LIMITED ……………........ APPELLANT/ORIGINAL DEFENDANT
STEPHEN REUBEN KARUNDITU
ELIUD NJOROGE ……...........…….....…………….…..………... APPELLANTS
VERSUS
ASHUT ENGINEERS LTD ……………. RESPONDENT/ORIGINAL PLAINTIFF
(Being an appeal against the ruling of Hon. A.K. Ndungu, Senior Principal Magistrate on 21st May of 2007 in CMCC No. 11381 of 2005 at
Milimani Commercial Courts)
RULING NO. 3
IBACKGROUND
1. It is necessary to make further ruling in this matter.
2. On the 25th June 2012, this court granted an application for stay of execution against the appellant, a director of a company.
3. The original court case in the magistrate’s court concerned execution proceedings amounting to a sum of Ksh. 4 million. The limited liability company failed to poay this sum as ordered by that court. The directors of the company were examined and were ordered to pay the sum due personally.
4. This High Court was asked to rule on the issue of security that should be provided. This was duly done and the court ordered that Ksh. 200,000/- be provided as security of costs.
5. The issue that now arises is whether further security on the decretal sum be provided?
IIDECRETAL SUM
6. The applicant states that the issue of the appeal is whether a director should be made personal for the debt or not? This therefore implies that security for the decretal sum should not be asked for.
7. The respondent wished for a clarification of this. That the judgment debtor is part of the applicant’s limited liability company. That he is a debtor and part of the appellant.
IIIFINDINGS
8. For purposes of clarification, the issue before this court on appeal is whether the director should be made liable for the debt of a limited company or not? The court herein, in its discretion, ordered security of costs of Ksh. 200,000/- be provided. It would therefore not make any further security to be provided for, due to the circumstances of the case.
9. The security of costs to be proved would be Ksh. 200,000/- paid within 30 days as of 11th July 2012.
10. The costs herein will be in the appeal.
DATED THIS 12th DAY OF JULY 2012 AT NAIROBI
M.A. ANG’AWA
JUDGE
Advocates:
i) T.W. Gaita instructed by M/s Gaita Co Advocates for
appellant/original defendant
ii) T.K. Mbaabu & M/s T.K. Kariba Mbaabu Co Advocates for
respondent /original defendant