[2008] KEHC 32 (KLR)
The court found that the defendants admitted receiving the purchase price and had signed the transfer forms, but the transfer could not be completed because a co-owner, Eustace Daudi, was not a party to the sale agreement and his widow could not be compelled to sign. Since the defendants failed to ensure all...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEHC 32 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: David Jomo Njagi; Defendant: Absolom Njagi Rundia; Defendant: John Njega Nyaga; Defendant: Erastus Nyaga Absolom
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Embu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 62 of 2006
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Summary Judgment Application
- Outcome
- summary judgment for plaintiff; refund of purchase price with interest and costs
- Judges
- J Karanja
- Legal Topics
- Specific Performance, Sale of Land, Summary Judgment, Refund of Purchase Price
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
David Jomo Njagi
Plaintiff
Absolom Njagi Rundia
Defendant
John Njega Nyaga
Defendant
Erastus Nyaga Absolom
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Summary Judgment Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendants can be compelled to specifically perform the agreement to transfer Plot No.3 Mufu market to the plaintiff.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to a refund of the purchase price paid to the defendants.
- 3 Whether there exist any triable issues warranting a full trial.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the defendants admitted receiving the purchase price and had signed the transfer forms, but the transfer could not be completed because a co-owner, Eustace Daudi, was not a party to the sale agreement and his widow could not be compelled to sign. Since the defendants failed to ensure all necessary parties were included in the agreement, they were responsible for the frustration of the contract. There were no triable issues, and specific performance could not be granted. The appropriate remedy was to order the defendants to refund the purchase price to the plaintiff with interest at court rates from the date of filing until payment in full, together with costs of the...
Court Disposition
summary judgment for plaintiff; refund of purchase price with interest and costs
Orders
- Judgment entered for the plaintiff against the three defendants as prayed in the plaint dated 12/7/2006.
- The defendants shall refund the sum of 250,000 KES to the plaintiff with interest at court rates from the date of filing until payment in full.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT EMBU
CIVIL CASE 62 OF 2006
DAVID JOMO NJAGI...........................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
ABSOLOM NJAGI RUNDIA........................1ST DEFENDANT
JOHN NJEGA NYAGA................................2ND DEFENDANT
ERASTUS NYAGA ABSOLOM..................3RD DEFENDANT
RULING
The plaintiff filed this suit on 12th July 2006 against the 3 defendants seeking orders that they be compelled to perform their part of the agreement and/or transfer Plot No.3 Mufu market and or refund the money paid.
The defendants in their separate statements of defence admitted having received the money and stated that they have not refused to transfer the plot in question to the plaintiff.
Following this admission, the plaintiff through Momanyi Gichuki & Co. Advocates filed the notice of motion dated 2/3/2009 asking for summary Judgment against 3 defendant/Respondents. The Respondents again in their replying affidavits admitted having received the money in question. Indeed they annexed documents to show that immediately after entering into the agreement, they proceeded to the Runyenjes Municipal Council and signed the forms to transfer the plot. The hitch is that the plot was co-owned with them and one Eustace Daudi who is said to be deceased. Unfortunately, the said Eustace did not feature anywhere in their sale agreement. So although they say that his widow is waiting to get the letters of administration to her husband’ s estate so that she can sign the transfer, she cannot be compelled to do so as her husband was not privy to the agreement of sale. From the information contained in the said affidavit and the annexures thereto, there are clearly no triable issues here.
I cannot grant the order for specific performance because the Respondents have already signed their part. In my view however they are still responsible for the frustration of the sale agreement because they failed to bring the Eustace’s wife into the picture for her to have signed the agreement. Without her or her husband being a party to the agreement, an order for specific performance cannot lie against her. The only recourse therefore is for the 3 defendants to refund the purchase price they received from the plaintiff applicant.
I therefore allow the application for summary Judgment and enter Judgment for the plaintiff against the 3 defendants as prayed in the plaint dated 12/7/2006. This means that the 250,000/= will attract interest at court rates (not commercial rates) from the date of filing the claim until payment in full. The defendants will also pay the costs of the suit to the plaintiff with interest thereon at court rates.
W. KARANJA
JUDGE
Delivered, signed and dated at Embu this 7th day of Oct 2009
In presence of:- Mr. Ogoti for Momanyi for plaintiff and 2nd and 3rd defendants.
W. KARANJA
JUDGE
7/10/2009