[2010] KEHC 2019 (KLR)
The court found that although only the 3rd plaintiff was aggrieved by the ruling and had filed a notice of appeal, the joint application for leave to appeal by all plaintiffs was not defective. The court reasoned that the 3rd plaintiff, being part of the group of plaintiffs, could validly seek leave within a joint...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] KEHC 2019 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Davis Wafula Nakitare; Plaintiff: Polly Noice Nakitare; Plaintiff: Delta Crescent Camps and Safaris Ltd; Defendant: Agricultural Development Corporation
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 80 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Application for Leave to Appeal
- Outcome
- Application granted.
- Legal Topics
- Leave to Appeal, Preliminary Objection, Striking Out Suit
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Davis Wafula Nakitare
Plaintiff
Polly Noice Nakitare
Plaintiff
Delta Crescent Camps and Safaris Ltd
Plaintiff
Agricultural Development Corporation
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Application for Leave to Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether leave should be granted to the plaintiffs to appeal against the ruling that struck out the suit against the 3rd plaintiff.
- 2 Whether a joint application for leave to appeal is defective when only one plaintiff is aggrieved.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that although only the 3rd plaintiff was aggrieved by the ruling and had filed a notice of appeal, the joint application for leave to appeal by all plaintiffs was not defective. The court reasoned that the 3rd plaintiff, being part of the group of plaintiffs, could validly seek leave within a joint application. The court further held that since leave had not been sought orally at the time of the ruling, it was proper and necessary for the application to be made. The court exercised its discretion to grant leave to appeal, finding no procedural defect in the manner the application was brought.
Court Disposition
Application granted.
Orders
- Leave is granted to the plaintiffs/applicant to appeal against the ruling of this honourable court delivered on 16th December, 2009 to the Court of Appeal.
- Costs be provided for.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITALE
Civil Suit 80 of 2009
DAVISWAFULA NAKITARE
POLLY NOICE NAKITARE
DELTA CRESCENT CAMPS AND SAFARIS LTD:::::::::::::::: PLAINTIFF.
VERSUS
AGRICULTURAL DEV. CORPORATION :::::::::::::: DEFENDANT.
R U L I N G.
By a chamber summons application dated 17th December, 2009pursuant to sections 75, 3 and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act, Order XLIII Rules 1 (2) and 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules, the applicant seeks orders:-
(a)This application be certified as urgent and be heard on a priority basis.
(b)Leave be granted to the plaintiffs/applicant to appeal against the ruling of this honourable court delivered onthe 16th December, 2009to the Court of Appeal.
(c)Costs be provided for.
The application is based on the grounds:
(i)Ruling was delivered in this matter onthe 16th December, 2009wherein the preliminary objection was upheld and the suit against the 3rd plaintiff struck out with costs.
(ii)The plaintiffs/applicants is dissatisfied with the said ruling and intends to appeal against the whole of the said ruling to the Court of Appeal.
(iii)No leave was orally sought in court when the said ruling was delivered.
(iv)This honourable court is seized of the requisite jurisdiction to grant the orders prayed for.
The application is predicated upon the annexed affidavit of Delmas Mwinamo sworn on the 17th day of December, 2009.
On behalf of the applicant, it was argued that a ruling was delivered on10th December, 2009. By that ruling the preliminary objection by the defendant was upheld.The suit against the 3rd plaintiff was struck out.
Being aggrieved by the said ruling, the plaintiff/applicants has decided to appeal.Before an appeal can be filed there is need to seek leave, as no leave was sought orally, and as such none was granted.That it is imperative and in the interest of justice that leave be sought and granted by this court before an appeal can be lodged.
On behalf of the respondent, it was arged that the notice of appeal has been filed by the 3rd plaintiff only.It clearly indicates that it is the 3rd plaintiff who is aggrieved by the ruling of the court.Yet the application before the court is a joint application for all the plaintiff’s.Hence the application before the court is at variance with the notice of appeal.This has embarrassed the respondents.They do not know how to respond to the application.
I have carefully analysed the application and the rival arguments.It is conceded that only the 3rd plaintiff is aggrieved and is the one who seeks leave to appeal.Yet the application is joint.It is axiomatic that the larger figure (namely 3) includes the lesser figure.Put in another way the 3rd plaintiff is a sub-set of the larger figure of 3 plaintiffs.Hence the 3rd plaintiff is part of the 3 plaintiffs.To my mind there is no defect in the application.
Accordingly, the application is granted in terms of prayer (b) and (c) of the application.
Dated and delivered at Kitale this 30th day of June, 2010.
N.R.O. OMBIJA.
JUDGE.
N/A for Applicant.
N/A for Respondent.