[2015] KEHC 6569 (KLR)
The court found that continued detention of the applicant in civil jail served no practical purpose, as it rendered him incapable of repaying his debts and undermined his constitutional rights to dignity and humane treatment. The court emphasized that the Bill of Rights applies to all persons, including those...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 6569 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Paul Kimuri Kirimi
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Bankruptcy Cause 4 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Bankruptcy Cause / Application for Receiving Order and Release From Civil Jail
- Outcome
- Application allowed. Receiving order issued. Applicant released from civil jail. No order as to costs.
- Judges
- BA Mitullah
- Legal Topics
- Bankruptcy Petition, Receiving Order, Civil Debt Enforcement, Release From Civil Jail
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Paul Kimuri Kirimi
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Bankruptcy Cause / Application for Receiving Order and Release From Civil Jail
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant should be granted a receiving order in bankruptcy.
- 2 Whether the applicant should be released from civil jail pending bankruptcy proceedings.
- 3 Whether continued detention of the applicant is compatible with constitutional rights.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that continued detention of the applicant in civil jail served no practical purpose, as it rendered him incapable of repaying his debts and undermined his constitutional rights to dignity and humane treatment. The court emphasized that the Bill of Rights applies to all persons, including those imprisoned for civil debt, and that the law must be interpreted to favor the enforcement of fundamental rights. Given that the applicant had petitioned for bankruptcy, accepted liability, and proposed repayment upon regaining employment, the court held that a receiving order should be issued and the applicant released from civil jail to allow the bankruptcy process to proceed. The...
Court Disposition
Application allowed. Receiving order issued. Applicant released from civil jail. No order as to costs.
Orders
- A Receiving Order against the Petitioner herein be issued.
- Order of stay of execution against the Petitioner herein and the officer in charge of the Industrial Area Prison be and is hereby ordered to release Paul Kimuri Kirimi from civil jail.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
44 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
COMMERCIAL & ADMIRALTY DIVISION
BANKRUPTCY CAUSE NO. 4 OF 2015
IN THE MATTER OF: PAUL KIMURI KIRIMI
R U L I N G
1. The Application is dated 29th January 2015.
2. It first came before me on Friday 30th January 2015 under a Certificate of Urgency and re-listed on Monday to enable counsel to argue Application.
Unfortunately counsel did not attend Court and Mr. Masika stepped in to hold brief. I am informed Mr. Kabuye had a slight accident.
3. The background is that the applicant has accumulated debts in the sum of Kshs. 3,103,461/40 according to his petition. There are two principal debtors Standard Chartered Bank and Child maintenance debts to his ex-wife for child maintenance orders given in the family court. The child maintenance order does not seem to have been varied after he lost his job.
4. The Applicant has spent nearly 2 months in prison. He accepts his debts and his liability to pay them. He even makes proposals to repay when he regains employment.
5. The Applicant has petitioned for his own Bankruptcy. Counsel was unable to tell me what stage the proceedings had reached but I assume no receiving order has been made as the prayer seeks a receiving order.
6. I take my guidance from the constitution which provides:
“19. (1) The Bill of Rights is an integral part of Kenya’s democraticstate and is the framework for social, economic and cultural policies.
(2) The purpose of recognising and protecting human rights andfundamental freedoms is to preserve the dignity of individuals andcommunities and to promote social justice and the realisation of the potential of all human beings.
(3) The rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill ofRights—
(a) belong to each individual and are not granted by theState;
(b) do not exclude other rights and fundamental freedoms notin the Bill of Rights, but recognised or conferred by law,except to the extent that they are inconsistent with thisChapter; and
(c) are subject only to the limitations contemplated in thisConstitution.
20. (1) The Bill of Rights applies to all law and binds all Stateorgans and all persons.
(2) Every person shall enjoy the rights and fundamental freedomsin the Bill of Rights to the greatest extent consistent with the nature of the right or fundamental freedom.
(3) In applying a provision of the Bill of Rights, a court shall—
(a) develop the law to the extent that it does not give effect toa right or fundamental freedom; and
(b) adopt the interpretation that most favours the enforcementof a right or fundamental freedom.
(4) In interpreting the Bill of Rights, a court, tribunal or otherauthority shall promote––
(a) the values that underlie an open and democratic societybased on human dignity, equality, equity and freedom; and
(b) the spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights. Constitution – Inhuman treatment.
Article 51 provides:
51. (1) A person who is detained, held in custody or imprisonedunder the law, retains all the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights, except to the extent that any particular right or a fundamental freedom is clearly incompatible with the fact that the person is detained, held in custody or imprisoned.
(2) A person who is detained or held in custody is entitled topetition for an order of habeas corpus.
(3) Parliament shall enact legislation that––
(a) provides for the humane treatment of persons detained, heldin custody or imprisoned; and
(b) takes into account the relevant international human rightsinstruments.
7. As a matter of logic and common sense, it is clear that the Applicant has no prospect of repaying his debts while he is in prison. In the circumstances, I order his immediate release.
ORDER:
1)A Receiving Order against the Petitioner herein be issued.
2)Order of stay of execution against the Petitioner herein and the officer in charge of the industrial Area Prison be and is hereby ordered to release PAUL KIMURI KIRIMI from civil jail.
3)THAT there be no order as to costs as the representation was pro bona.
DATED SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2015.
FARAH S. M. AMIN
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Mr. Mbiu court clerk.
Mr. Masika Counsel for the Applicant.