[2015] KEHC 876 (KLR)
The court held that the overriding consideration in applications for leave to amend is whether the amendments are necessary for the just determination of the controversy between the parties. The policy of the law is to allow amendments before hearing if they do not cause injustice to the other party. The court found...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 876 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Euphamia N. Makokha; Respondent: The Chairman Bumula Land Disputes Tribunal; Interested Party: Felistus Andati Odera
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Civil Application 242 of 2000
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Amend Notice of Motion
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- SN Mukunya
- Legal Topics
- Amendment of Pleadings, Procedural Technicalities, Leave to Amend, Discretion of Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Euphamia N. Makokha
Applicant
The Chairman Bumula Land Disputes Tribunal
Respondent
Felistus Andati Odera
Interested Party
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Amend Notice of Motion
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether leave to amend the notice of motion should be granted in light of errors in the form and heading of the proceedings.
- 2 Whether the amendment would cause prejudice to the respondent.
- 3 Whether failure to enjoin the Republic is fatal to the application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the overriding consideration in applications for leave to amend is whether the amendments are necessary for the just determination of the controversy between the parties. The policy of the law is to allow amendments before hearing if they do not cause injustice to the other party. The court found that no prejudice would be suffered by the respondent if the amendment was allowed, and that other concerns raised by the respondent could be addressed during the substantive hearing. The application for leave to amend was therefore allowed, with costs awarded to the respondent.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Leave to amend the notice of motion is granted.
- Costs of the application are awarded to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
MISC. CIVIL APPLICATION No.242 OF 2000
EUPHAMIA N. MAKOKHA……………………....……....….…............APPLICANT
VERSUS
THE CHAIRMAN BUMULA LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL.......RESPONDENT
AND
FELISTAS ANDATI ODERA………………………….....…INTERESTED PARTY
RULING
[1] Before me is an application for leave to amend the notice of motion dated 3rd November, 2000. The grounds supporting the same is that it has come to the applicant’s Counsels’ attention that the supporting affidavit and statement of fact all have errors as regard to the form of proceedings and heading. That it will be fair and proper for the administration of Justice if the errors noted be corrected by way of amendment. That there will be no prejudice to the respondents.
The application is supported by the affidavit of Charles Keago Areba the learned Counsel for the applicant herein. In his application, he reiterates the same facts. He attached an amended Notice of motion showing the intended amendments.
[2] The respondent opposed the application. He relied on the application of Felistus Andati Odera. The affidavit in a nut shell says that the applicant wants to take his land which was awarded to him by Bumula Land Disputes Tribunal and the Kakamega Provincial Appeals Committee on merit. He argues that failure to enjoin the Republic is fatal and it renders the application bad in law and defective and that the application was filed 15 years ago and the applicant failed to prosecute it.
[3] It is now settled that the overriding consideration on applications for leave to amend is whether the amendments sought are necessary for the just determination of the controversies between the parties. The policy of the law being that amendment to pleadings sought before the hearing, should be freely allowed if they can be made without injustice to the other party. See Eastern Bakery Vs Castelino [1958] 64I
[4] Granting of leave or refusal of the same is discretionary.
Section (3) (d) of the Constitution provides as follows;
“The Court, while observing the rules of natural
justice shall not be unreasonably restricted by
procedural technicalities”.
Equally Order 51 rule 10(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010 stipulates that:-
“No application shall be defeated on a technicality or
want of forum therefore does not affect the subsistence
of the application”
[5] As far as I can see, no prejudice will be suffered by the respondent in having this amendment done. The other issues of concern to the respondent can be canvassed during the hearing of the application hereof
The application is allowed.
Costs of the same are awarded to the respondent.
It is so ordered.
DATED at BUNGOMA this 2nd day of December, 2015
S.N. MUKUNYA
JUDGE