[2008] KEHC 3772 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiffs and defendant had executed a lease agreement on 3rd October 2007, thereby resolving the dispute over renewal of the lease for the subject property. As the core issue in the suit—specific performance for renewal of the lease—had been settled by lawful agreement, there was nothing...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEHC 3772 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: BP Shell Kenya Limited; Plaintiff: Kenya Shell Limited; Defendant: Nyeri District Co-operative Union Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 1274 of 2005
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion to Mark Suit as Compromised
- Outcome
- Application allowed. Suit marked as compromised by lawful agreement. Judgment entered binding plaintiff No. 2 and defendant to the agreement. Costs awarded to applicant.
- Legal Topics
- Lease Renewal, Specific Performance, Compromise of Suit
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
BP Shell Kenya Limited
Plaintiff
Kenya Shell Limited
Plaintiff
Nyeri District Co-operative Union Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion to Mark Suit as Compromised
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the suit should be marked as compromised following execution of the lease agreement.
- 2 Whether the parties are bound by the executed lease agreement.
- 3 Entitlement to costs following compromise of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiffs and defendant had executed a lease agreement on 3rd October 2007, thereby resolving the dispute over renewal of the lease for the subject property. As the core issue in the suit—specific performance for renewal of the lease—had been settled by lawful agreement, there was nothing left for the court to determine. The application to mark the suit as compromised was allowed, and the suit was accordingly marked as compromised and adjusted by the agreement. The court further held that the parties are bound by the terms of the executed lease, and awarded costs to the applicant.
Court Disposition
Application allowed. Suit marked as compromised by lawful agreement. Judgment entered binding plaintiff No. 2 and defendant to the agreement. Costs awarded to applicant.
Orders
- The notice of motion dated 22nd April 2008 is allowed.
- The suit is marked as compromised, having been adjusted by a lawful agreement.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
56 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI (NAIROBI LAW COURTS)
Civil Case 1274 of 2005
. Land and Environmental Law Division
2. Subject of main suit: Land
LR Nyeri Municipality/Block 3130
a) Lease of a petrol station
b) Dispute of extension of lease
c) Lease executed by parties.
3. Application notice of motion 23. 4.08
a) That the suit has and be marked as
compromised
b) Application opposed by respondent.
4. Held
Lease executed on 3rd October, 2007 for a term of 10 years between parties.
Application granted.
5. Case Law - Nil
6. Advocates.
G. Gitonga holding brief for K. Kiragu instructed by Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates for the plaintiff – present
T. Liko instructed by Sichagi & Co. Advocates for the defendant - present
BP SHELL KENYA LIMITED …………………… 1ST PLAINTIFF
KENYA SHELL LIMITED ……………………… 2ND PLAINTIFF
V E R S U S
NYERI DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE
UNION LIMITED ………………………………..… DEFENDANT
R U L I N G
I Background
1. Plaintiff No. 1 B.P. Shell Limited had leased a land parcel Nyeri Municipality Block 3/30 where a petrol station was operating.
2. The lease was to be renewed and the defendants were resisting this lease to be renewed. Both plaintiffs 1 and 2 namely B.P Kenya Ltd and Kenya Shell Ltd sued for specific performance.
3. The parties signed a lease which was duly executed on 3rd October 2007.
4. The plaintiff filed this application of 23rd April, 2008 to mark the said suit as having been compromised.
II Application notice of motion dated 23rd April, 2008
5. The argument put forward by the applicant is that as the lease has now been drawn, signed, sealed and delivered there was nothing else left in this matter. The applicant relied on Mulla on the Civil Procedure Act v of 1908 1997 edition on the rule relating to compromise of suit, namely that this suit is compromised and has been merely been adjusted by a lawful agreement.
6. He also relied on several case law where a compromise of suit has been recorded by this court.
a) Kiambu Service Stores Ltd
v
Attorney General
(2001) LLR 2604 (CCK)
HCCC 1545/01 Ibrahim J
b)Njuguna v Mburu & Another
(1996) LLR 502 (HCK)
Waki J (as he then was)
7. The respondent opposes this method of comprising the suit. He asked questions as to his costs, questions as to the locus of the 1st respondent.
III Findings
8. In this case the two plaintiffs who are said to be the same shareholders but two separate companies state that they wanted a specific performance for a renewal of a lease before this court.
9. That lease was finally entered into and duly signed on 3rd October, 2007. There was nothing left.
10. The costs should be awarded to the respondent as they have succeeded in their prayers.
11. I would accordingly find that this application notice of motion dated 22nd April 2008 be and is hereby allowed. I mark this suit as compromised having been so adjusted by a lawful agreement.
12. I enter judgment that plaintiff No. 2 and defendant are hereby bound by the agreement so entered.
13. I award costs to the applicant.
DATED THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY 2008 AT NAIROBI
M. A. ANG’AWA
J U D G E
G. Gitonga holding brief for K. Kiragu instructed by Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates for the plaintiff – present
T. Liko instructed by Sichagi & Co. Advocates for the defendant - present