[2020] KEHC 3147 (KLR)
The court found that since the applicant's attempt to file a notice of appeal out of time had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal, there was no valid or subsisting appeal or intention to appeal. Consequently, the application for stay pending appeal was incompetent as it lacked a legal foundation. The court held...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 3147 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Urbanus Muinde Mutuku; Respondent: Daniel Mbithuka Mbinda
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 1035 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Application for Stay Pending Appeal
- Outcome
- application struck out with costs to the respondent
- Judges
- GV Odunga
- Legal Topics
- Stay of Execution, Grant of Letters of Administration, Rectification of Grant, Appeal Procedure
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Urbanus Muinde Mutuku
Applicant
Daniel Mbithuka Mbinda
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Application for Stay Pending Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to a stay of execution pending appeal.
- 2 Whether the application for stay is competent where no valid notice of appeal exists.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that since the applicant's attempt to file a notice of appeal out of time had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal, there was no valid or subsisting appeal or intention to appeal. Consequently, the application for stay pending appeal was incompetent as it lacked a legal foundation. The court held that without a pending or intended appeal, the application for stay could not be entertained and must be struck out.
Court Disposition
application struck out with costs to the respondent
Orders
- The application dated 20th January, 2020 is struck out with costs to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MACHAKOS
(Coram: Odunga, J)
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 1035 OF 2012
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DOMINIC MUTUKU MWOLE (DECEASED)
URBANUS MUINDE MUTUKU...................................................................................OBJECTOR
VERSUS
DANIEL MBITHUKA MBINDA.....................................................................ADMINISTRATOR
RULING
1. On 6th November 2019, I issued an order in this matter by which I dismissed the protest filed herein and proceeded to allow the Summons for Rectification of Confirmed Grant dated 9th July, 2018. Accordingly, I directed that the Confirmed Grant herein be rectified to reflect the correct acreage to be administered by the Petitioner as 15 acres of the said Land Parcel Machakos/Mua Hills/650 instead of the entire parcel which measures 39. 22 acres and that the remaining portion of the same measuring 24. 22 acres revert to the estate of the deceased.
2. Aggrieved by the said ruling, the Objector vide an application dated 20th January, 2020 applied to have the said decision stayed pending the hearing and determination of his intended appeal to the Court of Appeal.
3. It would seem that no Notice of Appeal was filed within time since from the Ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on 10th July, 2020 in Nairobi Court of Appeal Civil Application No. 6 of 2020 – Urbanus Muinde Mutuku vs. Daniel Mbithuka Mbinda, the Objector by an application dated 7th January, 2020 sought extension of time for filing of the said Notice. After hearing the said application, the said Court (Gatembu, JA) found no merit in the same and proceeded to dismiss it.
4. An application for stay pending appeal can only be granted where the applicant intends to appeal. Where however his attempts to appeal have been unsuccessful, he cannot be granted such a stay.
5. The Objector’s application seeking to have time extended having been dismissed, it follows that the substratum of the instant application also crumbles.
6. It follows that the application dated 20th January, 2020 is incompetently before this Court and is hereby struck out with costs to the Respondent.
7. It is so ordered.
Read, signed and delivered in open Court at Machakos this 23rd day of September, 2020.
G V ODUNGA
JUDGE
Delivered in the presence of:
Mr Nthiwa for Mr D. M Mutinda for the Applicant
Ms Thiongo for the Respondent
CA Geoffrey