[2004] KEHC 1940 (KLR)
The court found that the preliminary objection lacked merit because the applicant's motion was filed within the time ordered by the court, and the Kenyan procedure does not require listing of motions for hearing within a prescribed time. Furthermore, the court noted that the goods attached and the property broken...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2004] KEHC 1940 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Gerpas Oduor Oyugi; Defendant: Peum Enterprises; Defendant: Philip Otieno; Applicant: Uwe Cygan
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 453 of 2001
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
- Outcome
- preliminary objection dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Setting Aside Judgment, Attachment of Property, Preliminary Objection, Execution Procedure
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Gerpas Oduor Oyugi
Plaintiff
Peum Enterprises
Defendant
Philip Otieno
Defendant
Uwe Cygan
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the preliminary objection to the applicant's motion is sustainable.
- 2 Whether the goods attached and property broken into belonged to the judgment debtor.
- 3 Whether the ex-parte judgment should remain set aside.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the preliminary objection lacked merit because the applicant's motion was filed within the time ordered by the court, and the Kenyan procedure does not require listing of motions for hearing within a prescribed time. Furthermore, the court noted that the goods attached and the property broken into did not belong to the judgment debtor, and the ex-parte judgment had already been set aside. Therefore, there was no basis to sustain the preliminary objection, and it was dismissed in the interest of justice.
Court Disposition
preliminary objection dismissed
Orders
- The preliminary objection is dismissed and disallowed.
- Costs of the preliminary objection awarded to the applicant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MOMBASA CIVIL SUIT NO. 453 OF 2001
GERPAS ODUOR OYUGI…………….................…………………….PLAINTIFF
=V E R S U S=
1. PEUM ENTERPRISES
2. PHILIP OTIENO…………………………....................……….DEFENDANTS
A N D
UWE CYGAN………………………………..............…………….APPLICANT
R U L I N G
In this case the Plaintiff isGERPAS ODUOR OYUGI. There are two Defendants: (1) PEIUM ENTERPRISES (2) PHILIP OTIENO.
Ex-parte judgment was granted against the Defendants but has been set aside on the application of the 1st Defendant on 14/11/2003.
One UWE CYGAN a director and shareholder of 1st Defendant was abroad when he was informed by his friend in Kenya that there was a threatened attachment of assets in Case No.453/01. The friend one MR. PIM NICOLAI of Magic Designs Ltd offered to pay Kshs.500,000/- to keep off the attachment on Plot No.1142 Mango Park 2 Diani Breach which plot was said to belong to Mr. Uwe Cygan aforementioned. An Agreement shows that the Kilimanjaro Auctioneers took a motor vehicle Toyota Hilux owned by Mr. Cygan as security.
It will be noticed here that the property which was broken into was not belonging to any of the Defendants or decree-holders who were bound by decree. In fact the exhibited Title Deed shows that the property was held by:
(1) Margarete Eveline Gregor
(2) Marrieta Beatrix Lisk.
Courts of Kenya do not follow the procedure of entering motions for hearing. I accept the interpretation of Mr. Asige that in Kenya the fixing of a motion for hearing is made at registry like all other matters. In any case the order of the court stated that “Motion be filed within 14 days” and this was done. Under our system it would be quite inconvenient to list motions or any other matters within a prescribed time. There is only one diary of the High Court in Civil Matters and this would bring only confusion.For these reasons I do not find any merit to sustain the Preliminary Objection. There are very serious issues in this matter which have to be dealt with in the interest of justice.
I have already pointed out that the goods attached and the property broken into are not of Judgment Debtor and that the judgment has been set aside.
For these reasons I do not sustain the objections. The same are dismissed and disallowed.
Costs of this Preliminary Objection to the Applicant.
Dated at Mombasa this 2nd day of June, 2004.
JOYCE KHAMINWA
J U D G E
2/6/2004
Khaminwa, J.
Chege – Court Clerk
Mr. Asige – present
Mr. Mburu – N/A
Ruling read in presence of Mr. Asige.
JOYCE KHAMINWA, J.