[2008] KEHC 2730 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant's financial circumstances had not improved since he was previously declared a pauper in 2004. Upon examination, the applicant remained unable to pay court fees, justifying his request to file two new suits as a pauper. However, the request to transfer Thika CMCC No. 1244 of 1998...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEHC 2730 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: John Kariuki Mathuko; Respondent: The Hon The Attorney General
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Judgment Date
- 25 April 2008
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application 881 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to File Suit as Pauper
- Outcome
- Application partly allowed.
- Legal Topics
- Pauper Proceedings, Leave to File Suit, Costs Orders
- Source Language
- english
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
John Kariuki Mathuko
Applicant
The Hon The Attorney General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to File Suit as Pauper
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant should be allowed to file two suits as a pauper.
- 2 Whether the application for transfer of Thika CMCC No. 1244 of 1998 was properly made within this application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant's financial circumstances had not improved since he was previously declared a pauper in 2004. Upon examination, the applicant remained unable to pay court fees, justifying his request to file two new suits as a pauper. However, the request to transfer Thika CMCC No. 1244 of 1998 was procedurally improper as it was not made separately and other parties had not been served. The court therefore granted the applicant leave to file the two intended suits as a pauper but struck out the prayer for transfer of the suit. The court clarified that the pauper order did not constitute leave to file suits out of time and made no order as to costs.
Court Disposition
Application partly allowed.
Orders
- Applicant declared a pauper for purposes of bringing the two intended suits.
- Prayer for transfer of Thika CMCC No. 1244 of 1998 struck out.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
MISCELLANEOUUS APPLICATION 881 OF 2007
JOHN KARIUKI MATHUKO .......................................APPLICANT
V E R S U S
THE HON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL..................RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
This is an application (by chamber summons dated 14th November, 2007) for an order that the Applicant be allowed to file two suits as a pauper against Thika Municipal Council and against other persons arising out of Makadara PM Criminal Case No. 368 of 2001. The Applicant has also sought transfer of Thika CMCC No. 1244 of 1998 to this court. That application for transfer ought to be made separately so that the other parties in that suit can be served with the application. It was not proper for it to be made together with the other two prayers, and I hereby strike out that prayer.
I have considered the application, having read the supporting affidavit and having heard the Applicant. There was no appearance for the Respondent who had been duly served. Nor were any papers filed in response to the application. On 9th July, 2004 the Applicant was declared a pauper for purposes of two suits pending before this court, which are HCCC No. 303 of 1991 and HCCC No. 2389 of 1994. This was vide Nairobi High Court Misc. Application No. 533 of 2004(Nyamu, J).
I examined the Applicant on 2nd of April, 2008 at the hearing of the present application. It appears his circumstances have not changed for the better since July, 2004. He is still a pauper. I therefore do not find any reason to deny him the order sought that will enable him to file the two intended suits as a pauper. I will declare him a pauper for purposes only of bringing the two intended suits. The order granted now should not be mistaken for leave to bring the intended suits out of time if they are, as it appears they might be, out of time.
There will be no order as to costs of the present application. It is so ordered.
DATED AT NAIROBI THIS 22ND DAY OF APRIL, 2008
H. P. G. WAWERU
J U D G E
DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 25th DAY OF APRIL, 2008