[2015] KEHC 3771 (KLR)
The court found that the appellant and his advocates were properly served with the court's orders and mention notices but failed to file the record of appeal or attend court to explain the delay. The court emphasized that it is the appellant's primary duty to ensure the prosecution of his case, and mere engagement...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 3771 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Jackson Mwilu; Respondent: Mary Mukethe (suing as the legal representative of the Estate of Patrick Ndambi (Deceased))
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 547 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Oral Application for Dismissal for Want of Prosecution
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution with costs to the respondent.
- Judges
- JK Sergon
- Legal Topics
- Dismissal for Want of Prosecution, Failure to Prosecute Appeal, Duty of Diligence, Service of Court Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Jackson Mwilu
Appellant
Mary Mukethe (suing as the legal representative of the Estate of Patrick Ndambi (Deceased))
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Oral Application for Dismissal for Want of Prosecution
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appeal should be dismissed for want of prosecution due to the appellant's failure to file the record of appeal and attend court as ordered.
- 2 Whether the appellant's advocates were properly served with court orders and mention notices.
- 3 Whether the appellant or his advocates provided sufficient explanation for the delay and non-attendance.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the appellant and his advocates were properly served with the court's orders and mention notices but failed to file the record of appeal or attend court to explain the delay. The court emphasized that it is the appellant's primary duty to ensure the prosecution of his case, and mere engagement of advocates does not absolve him of this responsibility. The unexplained failure to comply with court orders and attend court amounted to lack of diligence, justifying dismissal of the appeal for want of prosecution. The court therefore dismissed the appeal with costs to the respondent.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution with costs to the respondent.
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed for want of prosecution.
- Costs awarded to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
CIVIL APEAL NO. 547 OF 2009
JACKSON MWILU...........................................APPELLANT/APPLICANT
VERSUS
MARY MUKETHE (suing as the legal representative of the Estate of
PATRICK NDAMBI (DECEASED)……..........................……RESPONDENT
RULING
The Respondent herein filed an application dated 29th May, 2012 seeking for this appeal be dismissed for want of prosecution. Mr. Kamau Mbugua, learned counsel for the Appellant admitted to inadvertently filing the matter away without fixing a date for bring ups in his office. In my ruling of 12th May 2015, I considered the said application and found that the mistake was a genuine one and that the Appellant had no knowledge of the delay to expedite the conclusion of the matter, consequently I dismissed the application and made the following orders that:-
The Appellant to prepare, file and serve the record ofappeal within 30 days from date hereof.
The appeal to be mentioned before this court on9/6/2015 for directions and admission.
The summons dated 29. 05. 2012 is dismissed withcosts assessed at ksh. 10,000/= payable to therespondent within 30 days.
When this matter was mentioned on 9th June, 2015 for directions and admission, there was no appearance on the part of Appellant. By that day, the Record of Appeal had not been filed. The matter was then stood over to 7th July, 2015. Again on 7th July, 2015, the Appellant and his counsel did not appear in court. It is on that date that Mr. Rono, learned counsel holding brief for Mr. Naikuni for the Respondent made an oral application seeking the dismissal of the appeal.
I have read the affidavit of service sworn by Dominic Ngoka on 28th May, 2015 The same shows that the process server served the appellant’s advocates, M/s Mbugua, Atudo and Macharia & Company Advocates with this courts’ order dated 12th May, 2015 emanating from the ruling of 12th May, 2015. Annexed to the said afidavit of service is a copy of the court order. The copy of the order bears a receiving stamp of the firm of the appellant’s advocates which reveal that the order was received by them on 28th May, 2015. Further, there is an affidavit of service of Dominic Ngoka sworn on 6th Jul, 2015. Annexed to the said affidavit of service is a mention notice dated 9th June, 2015 which reveal that the Appellant’s advocates were informed of the mention date of 7th July 2015. Despite having knowledge of the mention date of 9th June, 2015 and 7th July 2015, the Appellants advocates failed to file the record of appeal as ordered and also failed to attend court to explain the reasons for the said failure.
Since the filing of the application dated 29th May, 2012, the Appellant has not been diligent enough to make a follow up on the matter. I say so because his advocate’s have not since been apt in handling his appeal. It must be noted that although the Appellant engaged his advocates and perhaps expects them to keep track of the mater, it is his primary duty as the party that dragged the Respondent to court to take steps to progress his case. It is not prudent to file a matter in court and fail to attend to it.
From the circumstances stated above, I find that there is unexplained failure to attend to this matter. A fair order to make is to order which I hereby do for the appeal to be dismissed with costs to the Respondent.
Dated, Signed and Delivered in Open Court this10thday of July, 2015.
J. K. SERGON
JUDGE
In the presence of:
………………………………………. for the Appellant
……………………………………….for the Respondent