[2025] KEHC 1427 (KLR)
The court held that the applicant was granted leave to file a substantive judicial review application in 2006 but failed to act for seventeen years. His subsequent application for extension of time was dismissed, and the file was closed. There was nothing left for the court to determine, as the application for leave...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEHC 1427 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Simon Kamau Johana; Respondent: Secretary Teachers Service Commission; Respondent: Board of Governors Maiuni Secondary School
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application 162 of 2006
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Reopen File and for Leave to Hear Earlier Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the respondents
- Judges
- FR Olel
- Legal Topics
- Judicial Review, Leave to Apply, Extension of Time, Dismissal of Application
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Simon Kamau Johana
Applicant
Secretary Teachers Service Commission
Respondent
Board of Governors Maiuni Secondary School
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Reopen File and for Leave to Hear Earlier Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should reopen a closed file to allow hearing of an application filed in 2006.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to leave to apply for judicial review orders after a delay of seventeen years.
- 3 Whether the matter has been conclusively determined and if the court has jurisdiction to revive it.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the applicant was granted leave to file a substantive judicial review application in 2006 but failed to act for seventeen years. His subsequent application for extension of time was dismissed, and the file was closed. There was nothing left for the court to determine, as the application for leave had already been dispensed with and the matter was long concluded. The court found no basis to reopen the file or grant further leave, emphasizing that the applicant's case was 'long dead' and could not be revived under any circumstances. The notice of motion dated 11th November 2024 was therefore dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the respondents
Orders
- The notice of motion application dated 11th November 2024 is dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
Johana v Secretary Teachers Service Commission & another (Miscellaneous Application 162 of 2006) [2025] KEHC 1427 (KLR) (12 February 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 1427 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Machakos
Miscellaneous Application 162 of 2006
FR Olel, J
February 12, 2025
IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPLY FOR ORDERS OF JUDICAL REVIEW(PROHIBITION) & CERTIORARI OF SIMON KAMAU JOHANA AND IN THE TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNERS-MAIUNI SECONDARY SCHOOL
Between
Simon Kamau Johana
Exparte Applicant
and
The Secretary Teachers Service Commission
1st Respondent
The Board of Governers Maiuni Secondary Schoool
2nd Respondent
Ruling
1. The Application before this court is a notice of motion application dated 11. 11. 2024 not anchored on any law. The Applicant seeks the following prayers, that;a.That the file herein be re opened and leave be granted for hearing of the applicants application dated 22nd September 2006 as filed on 22nd September 2006. b.That Costs be in the cause.
2. The Application is supported by a supporting affidavit of the Applicant dated 11. 11. 2024 who deposed that he had filed an application dated 22. 04. 2024, which was dismissed vide this court’s ruling dated 09. 10. 203. After the ruling was read, the court did suo moto close this file, which in his opinion was unfair as the matter had not been exhaustively dealt with. He thus urged this court to reopen the file to allow him to continue with his fight against the injustice that led him to lose his employment.
A. Determination 3. As explained in the ruling dated 22nd April 2024, the applicant was granted leave to file his substantive judicial review Application on 29th September 2006 but slept on his right for seventeen (17) years before seeking for extension of time to do so in 2023. His application for extension of time was rejected and the court file was marked as closed.
4. The applicant seeks to know, why the file was marked as closed, and in a layman’s language, it is because there is nothing left for the court to determine. The application for leave to apply for Judicial review orders dated 22. 09. 2006 was dispensed with once leave was granted to do so on 29. 09. 2006. There is nothing left to be determined thereto.
5. In short, his case is long dead and cannot be revived under whatever circumstance. He must forever hold his peace and accept this reality.
6. The upshot is that the notice of motion application dated 11th November 2024 lacks merit and the same is dismissed with costs to the respondents.
7. It is so ordered.
RULING DATED AND SIGNED AT MACHAKOS THIS 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025. FRANCIS RAYOLA OLELJUDGEDELIVERED ON THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM, TEAMS THIS 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025. In the presence of;No appearance for ApplicantNo appearance for RespondentI Jabo Court Assistant