[2018] KEELRC 1632 (KLR)
The court held that the claimant failed to discharge the burden of proof as required by law because no witness statements or affidavits were filed to substantiate the pleaded facts. The mere filing of pleadings and submissions, without evidence, is inadequate to sustain a claim, even in an undefended cause. As a...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELRC 1632 (KLR)
- Parties
- Claimant: Granton Mwasi Mwakima; Respondent: Sen-Tech Limited
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 2163 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Employment Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- claim dismissed
- Judges
- MSA Makhandia
- Legal Topics
- Burden of Proof, Uncontested Claim, Dismissal of Cause
- 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
Granton Mwasi Mwakima
Claimant
Sen-Tech Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the claimant proved his case to the required legal standard in the absence of evidence.
- 2 Whether pleadings alone, without supporting witness statements or affidavits, can sustain a claim in an undefended cause.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the claimant failed to discharge the burden of proof as required by law because no witness statements or affidavits were filed to substantiate the pleaded facts. The mere filing of pleadings and submissions, without evidence, is inadequate to sustain a claim, even in an undefended cause. As a result, the court found that it could not make a favourable finding for the claimant and dismissed the cause.
Court Disposition
claim dismissed
Orders
- The cause is dismissed with no order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NO. 2163 OF 2014
GRANTON MWASI MWAKIMA CLAIMANT
v
SEN-TECH LIMITED RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. This is an undefended Cause. According to an affidavit of service filed in Court on 15 October 2015, the Respondent’s secretary was served with Notice of Summons on 6 August 2015. No Response was filed.
2. When the Cause came up for hearing on 16 May 2018, the Claimant’s advocate proposed that the Cause be determined on the basis of the record and submissions to be filed.
3. The Court cautioned the advocate on the risks associated with the approach he was proposing.
4. The Claimant filed his submissions on 21 June 2018 (should have been filed by 30 May 2018) and the Court has considered the pleadings and the submissions.
5. Pleadings remain just that and without proof by way of evidence or otherwise, it becomes difficult for a Court of law to make a favourable finding for a Claimant.
6. In this case, no witness statement(s) or affidavit(s) were filed to set forth the facts. The Claimant had even pleaded malice on the part of the Respondent.
7. The Court is therefore of the view that the Claimant failed to prove his case to the required standard.
8. The Cause is dismissed with no order as to costs.
Delivered, dated and signed in Nairobi on this 6th day of July 2018.
Radido Stephen
Judge
Appearances
Mr. Cheboi instructed by Mang’erere Bosire & Co. Advocates for Claimant
Respondent did not participate
Court Assistant Lindsey