[2009] KEHC 645 (KLR)
The court found that the application for stay of execution was made promptly, only 12 days after the judgment, satisfying the requirement of timeliness. The applicant had already deposited the decretal sum of Kshs.305,000 as security, fulfilling the requirement for security for due performance of the decree. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2009] KEHC 645 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Farmers Choice Company Ltd.; Respondent: Gideon Ndinika Gitau
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 508 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Stay Application Pending Appeal
- Outcome
- Conditional stay of execution granted pending appeal.
- Judges
- GG Okwengu
- Legal Topics
- Stay of Execution, Security for Decretal Sum, Appeal Procedure, Timeliness of Application
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Farmers Choice Company Ltd.
Appellant
Gideon Ndinika Gitau
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Stay Application Pending Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to an order of stay of execution pending appeal.
- 2 Whether the application for stay was made without undue delay.
- 3 Whether adequate security has been provided for the due performance of the decree.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the application for stay of execution was made promptly, only 12 days after the judgment, satisfying the requirement of timeliness. The applicant had already deposited the decretal sum of Kshs.305,000 as security, fulfilling the requirement for security for due performance of the decree. The court considered that failure to grant stay could render the appeal nugatory if the applicant succeeded and was unable to recover the decretal sum from the respondent. Balancing the interests of both parties, the court held that it was fair and just to grant a conditional stay of execution pending appeal, subject to the security being placed in an interest-earning account and the...
Court Disposition
Conditional stay of execution granted pending appeal.
Orders
- The sum of Kshs.305,000 deposited in court shall be placed in an interest-earning account in the joint names of the parties' advocates within 21 days.
- The appellant shall file and serve a record of appeal within 90 days.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT
AT NAIROBI
MILIMANI LAW COURTS
Civil Appeal 508 of 2009
FARMERS CHOICE COMPANY LTD.………………… APPELLANT
VERSUS
GIDEON NDINIKA GITAU..………………….……….. RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
1. By a Notice of Motion dated 16th September, 2009, Farmers Choice Limited hereinafter referred to as the applicant, seeks an order of stay of execution of the judgment and decree, delivered in Milimani CMCC No.6442 of 2007, pending the hearing and determination of its appeal filed in this Court.
2. The Motion is based on grounds stated on the face of the application as follows:
(a) There is currently no stay of execution and therefore the 1st respondent may proceed to execute the decree at any time.
(b) Should the 1st respondent proceed to execute the decree the applicant’s appeal shall be rendered nugatory.
(c) The 1st respondent in his evidence in chief admitted that he is a man of straw and therefore should the applicant’s appeal succeed it may not recover the decretal amount.
(d) This application has been lodged without undue delay
(e) The applicant is ready to provide security as a condition for the stay.
(f) It is in the interests of justice that stay of execution be granted.
3. The application is also supported by an affidavit sworn by Stephen F. Strong who is the administration director of the applicant.
4. In response to the application, the 1st respondent, Gideon Ndinika Gitau has filed grounds of opposition in which he states as follows:
(i) That the application is fatally and incurably defective.
(ii) The said application is incompetent has no merits is an abuse of the Court process.
(iii) The application does not meet the criteria set for the grant of stay of execution as envisaged by Order XLI Rule 4 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
(iv) The 1st respondent has never indicated in Court or given evidence to the effect that he is a man of straw and therefore not in a position to refund the decretal amount should the appeal succeed.
5. Pursuant to orders issued by Waweru, J. on 16th September, 2009, the applicant has deposited a sum of Kshs.305,000/= into Court as security.
6. I have considered this application, the affidavit in support and the grounds of opposition. I am satisfied that the application having been brought just about 12 days after the judgment was delivered it was brought without undue delay. The applicant has also provided security by depositing the sum of Kshs.305,000/= into Court. In the circumstances it is fair and just that an order for stay of execution pending appeal, do issue on the following conditions:
(i) The sum of Kshs.305,000/= deposited in Court shall be deposited into an interest earning account with a reputable financial institution in the joint names of the parties’ advocates within 21 days from the date hereof.
(ii) The appellant shall file and serve a record of appeal within 90 days from the date hereof.
(iii) The appellant shall take all necessary action to facilitate the speedy disposal of this appeal. In the event that the appeal is not disposed off within 12 months from the date hereof, the order for stay of execution pending appeal shall stand discharged unless otherwise extended by the court.
(iv) Costs of this application shall be costs in the appeal.
Dated and delivered this 20th day of November, 2009
H. M. OKWENGU
JUDGE
In the presence of: -
Ms. Karanja for the appellant
Advocate for the respondent, absent
Eric, court clerk