[2012] KEHC 2173 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA ATMALINDI

SUCCESSION CAUSE 225 OF 2011

CHRISTINE MWENDE

ANITA A. PAMBA..........................................................................PLAINTIFFS

VERSUS

NICHOLAS KOPY KATANA KARISA

BARAKA MOHAMED

HAMIS ORE

KAZUNGU MASHI

KAZUNGU WANJE

PETER CHARO

KATANA MASHAKA

MWAMULAMBA MAKIRANDA

SANDAE ZIRO

KITI J. JEWA

MAMA RITA...............................................................................DEFENDANTS

R U L I N G

1. The plaintiffs’ Notice of Motion seeking leave to amend the plaint and brought inter alia under Order 8 rule 3 of the Civil Procedure rules met opposition from the defendants who contend that the same is an afterthought intended to delay the determination of the suit.

2. I have looked at the affidavits filed in respect of the application and the respective submissions and pleadings. It is apparent that there is a serious contention between the parties as to whether the plot No. KILIFI/MTWAPA/1528 to which the plaintiff\'s lay claim is distinct from or part of KILIFI/MTWAPA/206 claimed by the defendant. That issue is the main thrust of the plaintiff’s intended amendment. The failure by the plaintiff to include these details in the original plaint has been explained in the affidavit of the 1st plaintiff. In my considered view no potential prejudice has been demonstrated by the defendant that is incapable of compensation by costs.

3. On that basis, the provisions of Order 8 rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant case law which appears to be in the applicant’s favor, there can be no justification for denying the amendment. This view is fortified by the Court of Appeal decision in Central Kenya Ltd –vs- Trust Bank Ltd and others Civil Appeal No. 222 of 1998. The court stated therein that:

“It is also trite law, that as far as possible, a litigant should plead the whole of the claim which he is entitled to make in respect of his cause of action…otherwise, the court will not later permit him to reopen the same subject of litigation …because they have from negligence, inadventente of accident omitted that part of their case. Amendment of pleadings and joinder of parties is meant to obviate this. Hence the guiding principle in applications for leave to amend is that all amendments should be freely allowed at any stage of the proceedings, provided the amendment or joinders will not result in prejudice or injustice to the other party, which cannot properly be compensated. Neither the length of the proposed amendments nor delay were sufficient grounds for declining leave to amend. The overriding considerations were whether the amendments were necessary for the determination of the suit and whether the delay was likely to prejudice the opposing party beyond compensation in costs.”

4. Clearly the intended amendment is necessary for the determination of the suit. The court is also alive to its obligation under Section 1A and B of the Civil Procedure Act to give effect to the overriding objective of the Act and Civil Procedure Rules, namely to facilitate the just, expeditious, proportionate and affordable resolution civil disputes. The application for amendment will be allowed with costs to the defendants.

Read, delivered and dated at Malindi this 7th day of September, 2012 in the absence of the parties.

C. W. Meoli

JUDGE

Court clerk- Leah, Evans