[2009] KEHC 617 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had not complied with the conditions attached to the injunction order, specifically the payment of Ksh.97,000 per month to the 3rd defendant, nor had she taken steps to prosecute the suit. The plaintiff did not file any affidavit or grounds of opposition to the application. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2009] KEHC 617 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Eunice Gathigia Gathua; Defendant: James Gathua Kihoro; Defendant: Clear Insurance Brokers; Defendant: Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 33 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Application to Discharge Injunction
- Outcome
- application allowed; injunction discharged and set aside
- Judges
- FI Koome
- Legal Topics
- Injunction Discharge, Interlocutory Orders, Loan Enforcement, Non Compliance With Court Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Eunice Gathigia Gathua
Plaintiff
James Gathua Kihoro
Defendant
Clear Insurance Brokers
Defendant
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Application to Discharge Injunction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff's failure to comply with the conditions attached to the injunction warrants the discharge of the injunction order.
- 2 Whether the 3rd defendant is entitled to have the injunction set aside due to non-payment and lack of prosecution of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had not complied with the conditions attached to the injunction order, specifically the payment of Ksh.97,000 per month to the 3rd defendant, nor had she taken steps to prosecute the suit. The plaintiff did not file any affidavit or grounds of opposition to the application. The court held that the continued existence of the injunction, in the absence of compliance with its conditions, was prejudicial to the 3rd defendant. Accordingly, the court exercised its discretion under Order 39 Rule 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules to discharge and set aside the injunction order issued on 20th September 2007.
Court Disposition
application allowed; injunction discharged and set aside
Orders
- The injunction order issued on 20th September 2007 is discharged and set aside.
- The 3rd defendant is awarded the costs of this application.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI (MILIMANI COMMERCIAL COURTS)
Civil Case 33 of 2007
EUNICE GATHIGIA GATHUA …………………………………………………….. PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
JAMES GATHUA KIHORO ………………………………………………… 1ST DEFENDANT
CLEAR INSURANCE BROKERS ……………………………………….. 2ND DEFENDANT
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK KENYA LIMITED ………………. 3RD DEFENDANT
RULING
By a ruling delivered by Azangalala J on 20th September 2007 the plaintiff was granted an order of injunction on conditions that the plaintiff provides a written undertaking under oath as to damages within 7 days. Further the plaintiff pays to the 3rd defendant a sum of Ksh.97,000/- per month with effect from 30th September 2007 and thereafter on the 30th of every succeeding month until the hearing and determination of this suit. In default of compliance of any of the two conditions the injunction be discharged on the application by the 3rd defendant. On 29th June 2009 the 3rd defendant filed a notice of motion under order 39 rules 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules seeking for the discharge of the order of the injunction made on 20th September 2007.
This application is premised on the grounds stipulated on the body thereto and the supporting affidavit of Jane Chege sworn on 17th June 2009. She has deposed that the plaintiff has not made a single payment as ordered by the court. Secondly, the plaintiff has not made any effort to set the suit down for hearing. The plaintiff is comfortably enjoying the interim orders which remain in force to the detriment of the 3rd defendant. It is in the interest of justice that the order of injunction made by set aside.
Although counsel for the defendant did not file any replying affidavit or grounds of opposition, he urged the court to invoke the inherent powers under section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act and find that the suit shall be rendered nugatory if the order of injunction is to be discharged. Counsel further submitted that the 3rd defendant should have moved the court for contempt of court due to failure to comply with the court order.
Under order 39 rules 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules it is provided that:
“Any order for an injunction may be discharged, or varied, or set aside by the court on application made thereto by any party dissatisfied with such order.”
The orders sought to be discharged were issued on conditions that the plaintiff will pay the outstanding loan by monthly installments of Ksh.97,000/- with effect from 30th September 2007. Two years down the line the plaintiff has not made a single payment. The 3rd defendant is obviously entitled to apply to discharge the orders. The plaintiff did not even bother to swear an affidavit and her counsel did not even file grounds of opposition. Accordingly the order issued on 20th September 2007, on conditions which have not been met by the plaintiff are prejudicial to the 3rd defendant and are hereby discharged and set aside.
The 3rd defendant will have the costs of this application.
RULING READ AND SIGNED ON 25TH NOVEMBER 2009 AT NAIROBI.
M.K. KOOME
JUDGE