[1997] KECA 8 (KLR)
The Court of Appeal held that section 9E(2) of the Magistrates Courts Act expressly bars appeals from decrees entered in accordance with the decision of elders, except where the decree is in excess of or not in accordance with the elders' decision. Since the respondent's appeal did not allege that the decree was not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1997] KECA 8 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Ephantus Nyaga Mbogo; Respondent: Johnson Nyaga Mbogo
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Court Station
- Court of Appeal at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 191 of 1996
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Application to Strike Out Appeal Before the Court of Appeal
- Outcome
- Appeal struck out as incompetent with costs to the applicant.
- Legal Topics
- Appeals From Awards of Elders, Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal, Decrees in Land Disputes, Magistrates Courts Act Section 9e
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ephantus Nyaga Mbogo
Appellant
Johnson Nyaga Mbogo
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Application to Strike Out Appeal Before the Court of Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether an appeal lies to the Court of Appeal from a decree entered in accordance with the decision of elders under section 9E(2) of the Magistrates Courts Act.
- 2 Whether the present appeal is incompetent and should be struck out.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal held that section 9E(2) of the Magistrates Courts Act expressly bars appeals from decrees entered in accordance with the decision of elders, except where the decree is in excess of or not in accordance with the elders' decision. Since the respondent's appeal did not allege that the decree was not in accordance with the elders' decision, no right of appeal existed. The appeal was therefore incompetent and was struck out with costs.
Court Disposition
Appeal struck out as incompetent with costs to the applicant.
Orders
- The appeal is struck out with costs to the applicant.
- The applicant shall also have the costs of the notice of motion.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF KENYA
AT NYERI
Civil Appeal 191 of 1996
EPHANTUS NYAGA MBOGO ………………………………….APPELLANT
AND
JOHNSON NYAGA MBOGO ………………….……………. RESPONDENT
(Appeal from the judgment of the High Court of Kenya at Meru (Justice Etyang) dated 10th May, 1996
IN
H. C. C. C. NO. 15 OF 1993)
************************
ORDER OF THE COURT
By his motion Johnson Nyaga Mbogo has moved the Court for an Order under rule 80 of the Court of Appeal Rules that this appeal should be struck out as no appeal lies in the circumstances of this appeal.
On 4th November, 1991 the applicant sued the respondent for a declaration (inter alia) that held land parcel Ngandori/Kirigiti/T. 272 in trust for the applicant.
As it was a land matter, the Principal Magistrate Embu referred the dispute to a panel of elders section 9 of the Magistrates Courts Act. By their letter dated 27th April, 1992, the elders forwarded their award to the learned magistrate. They found that the land in question belonged to the applicant.
The court file mysteriously disappeared and a skeleton file was opened.
On 9th September, 1992 the learned magistrate read the award. Then the respondent applied to the court to set aside the award on the ground that the panel did not consider the evidence which was given by him and his witnesses. The applicant objected to the award being set aside. The learned magistrate by his ruling dated 15th January, 1993 dismissed the respondent’s application and refused to set aside the award and entered judgment in terms of the award.
The respondent then appealed to the Superior Court at Meru in Civil Appeal No. 15 of 1993. By his judgment dated 10th May, 1996 Etyang, J. dismissed the appeal with costs.
The respondent has now appealed to this Court and the applicant objects that there is no rights of appeal and as such the appeal should be struck out with costs.
Section 9 E (2) of the Magistrate’s Court Act (Cap 10) reads:-
“(2) Upon judgment having entered a decree shall follow and no appeal shall lie from that decree except in so far as the decree is in excess of, or not in accordance with, the decision of elders.”
The respondent has not appealed to this court on the ground that the decree is not in accordance with the decision of elders.
As judgment was entered in terms of the award of the elders on 15th January, 1993, no appeal can lie thereafter against the decree in pursuance of the judgment. The present appeal therefore does not lie and has been incompetently brought. It is hereby struck out with costs. The applicant will also have the cots of the notice of motion.
Dated and delivered at Nyeri this 14th day of May, 1997.
R. O. KWACH
…………………..
JUDGE OF APPEAL
G. S. PALL
…………………..
JUDGE OF APPEAL
S. E. O. BOSIRE
………………………..
AG. JUDGE OF APPEAL