[2012] KEHC 754 (KLR)
The court found that the amendment sought by the plaintiffs to join Thayu Kamau Mukugi, the Chief Land Registrar, and the Attorney General as defendants was necessary to assist the court in determining the real issue in controversy. The court further held that the amendment would not be prejudicial to the existing...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] KEHC 754 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Francis Kibaru Karanja; Plaintiff: Martha Wairimu Waithaka; Defendant: Isaac Enterprises Limited; Defendant: Joreth Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 49 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Plaint and Join Additional Defendants
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- LN Gacheru
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Amendment of Pleadings, Fraudulent Transfer of Land
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Francis Kibaru Karanja
Plaintiff
Martha Wairimu Waithaka
Plaintiff
Isaac Enterprises Limited
Defendant
Joreth Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Plaint and Join Additional Defendants
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiffs should be granted leave to amend the plaint to join additional defendants.
- 2 Whether the proposed amendment is necessary for the determination of the real issues in controversy.
- 3 Whether the joinder of new parties would prejudice the existing parties.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the amendment sought by the plaintiffs to join Thayu Kamau Mukugi, the Chief Land Registrar, and the Attorney General as defendants was necessary to assist the court in determining the real issue in controversy. The court further held that the amendment would not be prejudicial to the existing parties. The application was unopposed, and the court exercised its discretion under Order 8 Rule 3(1) and Order 1 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Rules to allow the amendment and joinder of parties. The court granted leave to amend the plaint and to serve the requisite notices on the newly joined defendants.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Leave is granted to the plaintiffs to join Thayu Kamau Mukugi, Chief Land Registrar, and the Attorney General as defendants.
- The plaintiffs shall serve the requisite notices on the newly joined defendants.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
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FRANCIS KIBARU KARANJA ….....................................1ST PLAINTIFF
MARTHA WAIRIMU WAITHAKA....................................2ND PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
ISAAC ENTERPRISES LIMITED..................................1ST DEFENDANT
JORETH LIMITED...........................................................2ND DEFENDANT
RULING
The Plaintiffs/Applicants herein have filed this Notice of Motion dated 17/10/2012 under Order 8 Rule 3 (1) and Order 1 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Rules and Section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act.
The Plaintiffs/Applicants sought for orders that leave be granted to join Thayu Kamau Mukugi, Chief Land Registrar and the Attorney General as Defendants in the instant suit herein. They also sought to amend the plaint herein to reflect the additional parties aforesaid as per the draft amended plaintannexed herein.
The application is supported by the affidavit of Francis Kibaru Karanja and among one of the grounds that plaintiff have recently discovered that the suit property was transferred to one Thayu Kamau Mukugi the intended 3rd Defendant. That the said transfer was done from fraudulently with the collusion of the intended 4th Defendant. Therefore the intended amendment is necessary in assisting the court to determine the real issue in controversy between the parties.
The application was set down for hearing on 30/10/2012 in the presences of Mr. Maina for Plaintiffs/Applicants and absence of Defendant. Plaintiffs/Applicants have filed an affidavit of service to confirm that service was effected on 1st and 2nd Defendant on 12/11/2012 both Defendants were absent and application was therefore not opposed.
I have considered the argument advanced by Mr. Maina for the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the provisions of order 8 Rule 3 (1) and Order 1 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the grounds set out on the face of the application.
Order 8 Rule 3(1) states that “the court may at any stage of the proceedings may allow any party to amend its pleadings.” Order 1 Rule 10 also gives the court power to order “any other person to be substituted or added if such order is necessary for the determination of the real matter in despite.”
Considering the argument advanced by the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the grounds in support of this application, the court finds that the amendment is necessary in assisting the court to determine the real issue in controversy herein and it will not be prejudicial to the parties herein.
The court consequently allows the plaintiffs/Applicants application dated 17/10/2012.
Plaintiff is granted leave to John Thayu Kamau Mukugi, Chief Land Registrar and the Attorney General as Defendant herein. The plaintiffs to serve the requisite notices.
The plaint herein be amended to reflect the additional parties.
Cost in the cause.
Dated, signed and delivered this 15th day of November, 2012.
L.N. GACHERU
JUDGE
In the Presence of:
…........................................for the Applicant
….........................................for the Defendants
….........................................Court clerk