[2022] KEHC 1421 (KLR)

[2022] KEHC 1421 (KLR)

The court found that the trial magistrate correctly held the appellant liable for the accident based on credible eyewitness and police evidence showing the appellant's driver was speeding and failed to exercise reasonable care in a populated area. The court held that the damages for pain and suffering and loss of...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2022] KEHC 1421 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: Cromwell Mzame; Respondent: Zablon Mwanyumba Lalu (Suing as Administrator of the estate of Allen Warito Lalu, Deceased); Respondent: Salome Yieko
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Voi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal E1 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal allowed in part; damages for lost years reduced; other awards upheld; each party to bear own costs of appeal.
Legal Topics
Fatal Accidents, Assessment of Damages, Negligence, Loss of Expectation of Life, Lost Years, Special Damages
Source Language
en
Tort Law Civil Procedure Fatal Accidents Assessment of Damages Negligence Loss of Expectation of Life Lost Years Special Damages

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Parties

Cromwell Mzame

Appellant

Zablon Mwanyumba Lalu (Suing as Administrator of the estate of Allen Warito Lalu, Deceased)

Respondent

Salome Yieko

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the trial magistrate erred in finding the appellant negligent against the weight of evidence.
  2. 2 Whether the damages awarded were inordinately high.
  3. 3 Whether the trial magistrate applied correct principles in assessing damages for loss of expectation of life and lost years.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the trial magistrate correctly held the appellant liable for the accident based on credible eyewitness and police evidence showing the appellant's driver was speeding and failed to exercise reasonable care in a populated area. The court held that the damages for pain and suffering and loss of expectation of life were reasonable, considering the deceased survived for a day after the accident and inflation since earlier precedents. However, the court found the multiplier of 25 years for lost years excessive given the deceased's employment circumstances and reduced it to 20 years, resulting in a recalculated award. The court clarified that the age of the deceased, not...

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed in part; damages for lost years reduced; other awards upheld; each party to bear own costs of appeal.

Orders

  • General damages for lost years awarded at Kshs. 939,464.
  • General damages for pain and suffering awarded at Kshs. 100,000.