[2019] KECPT 41 (KLR)
The Tribunal found that while the applicants admitted indebtedness, the amount owed was disputed and the validity of the charge instrument and unilateral increase of interest rates were also in contention. The applicants established ownership of the suit property and demonstrated that sale by public auction would...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KECPT 41 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Joseph Njuguna Kaguai; Applicant: Modern Oil Processors Ltd; Respondent: Amica Savings & Credit Ltd; Respondent: Keysian Auctioneers
- Court
- Cooperative Tribunal
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Tribunal Case 329 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction and Ancillary Relief
- Outcome
- interlocutory injunction and ancillary orders granted pending hearing and determination of the main suit
- Legal Topics
- Statutory Power of Sale, Injunctive Relief, Loan Default, Account Rendering, Security Interest, Credit Reference Bureau
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Joseph Njuguna Kaguai
Applicant
Modern Oil Processors Ltd
Applicant
Amica Savings & Credit Ltd
Respondent
Keysian Auctioneers
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction and Ancillary Relief
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicants are entitled to an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from selling or interfering with the suit property pending determination of the suit.
- 2 Whether the 1st respondent should be compelled to render a true and accurate statement of account to the applicants.
- 3 Whether the 1st respondent should be restrained from listing the applicants with the credit reference bureau pending determination of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi
The Tribunal found that while the applicants admitted indebtedness, the amount owed was disputed and the validity of the charge instrument and unilateral increase of interest rates were also in contention. The applicants established ownership of the suit property and demonstrated that sale by public auction would cause irreparable harm not compensable by damages. The Tribunal held that the threshold for granting an interlocutory injunction was met, particularly to preserve the property pending determination of the main suit. The Tribunal also found it necessary for the 1st respondent to render a true and accurate account of the loan, given the dispute over the amount owed. The Tribunal...
Court Disposition
interlocutory injunction and ancillary orders granted pending hearing and determination of the main suit
Orders
- An order of injunction restraining the respondents from advertising for sale, disposing of, alienating, dealing with, selling by public auction or otherwise interfering with the ownership or title to the property known as Title No. MAKUYU/KIMORORI/BLOCK IV/1549 pending hearing and determination of the suit.
- The 1st respondent is directed to render and deliver to the applicants true, accurate and correct accounts and the entire statement of account for the applicants' current and loan account.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
47 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE CO-OPERATIVE TRIBUNAL AT NAIROBI
TRIBUNAL CASE NO. 329 OF 2019
JOSEPH NJUGUNA KAGUAI.................................................1ST PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
MODERN OIL PROCESSORS LTD.......................................2ND PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
VERSUS
AMICA SAVINGS & CREDIT LTD.................................1ST DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
KEYSIAN AUCTIONEERS.............................................2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
RULING
The matter for determination in Notice of Motion application dated 14. 6.2019 seeking the following orders;-
1. Spent
2. Spent
3. This Honourable Tribunal be pleased to grant an order of Injunction restraining the Respondents, their servants, Officers, employees, assigns and/or agents or any other person acting for and/or on their behalf, from advertising for sale, disposing off, alienating, dealing with, selling by public auction and/or otherwise howsoever at any other time from or by completing by conveyance or transfer of any sale concluded by auction and/or private treaty or leasing, letting or otherwise howsoever interfering with the ownership of title to and/or interest in ALL THAT property known as Title No. MAKUYU/KIMORORI/BLOCK IV/1549 pending the hearing and determination of the entire suit.
4. This Honourable Tribunal do issue an order directing the 1st respondent to render and deliver to the Applicants true, accurate and correct accounts and the entire statement of account of account for the applicant’s current and loan account.
5. This Honorable Tribunal do issue an order restraining the 1st respondent from listing the applicants at the credit reference bureau.
6. The costs of this application be borne by the respondents.
Based on the grounds on the face of the application and supported by an affidavit of JOSEPH NJUGUNA KAGUI the 1st plaintiff /applicant.
The same is opposed by the replying affidavit of PIUS HIIRA filed on 23. 7.2019.
The application was canvassed by way of written submissions. The applicant filed their written submissions on 22. 8.2019 submitted that the 1st applicant is the lawful and registered owner of the suit property and they obtained a loan facility and allegedly used the land parcel MAKOYO KAMORORI/BLOCK IV/1549.
That the 1st respondent intends to sell the land parcel in exercise of its statutory power of sell which is not due and is in breach of statutes which require notices be issued.
That this demonstrates a prima facie case since a right may be infringed by the sale.
That damages is not sufficient since land is unique in nature and one parcel cannot be equiated in value to another.
That the applicants have met the required threshold as set out in GIELLA .VS. CASSMAN BROWN(1973) EA 358.
That the respondents need to render true accounts since the amount claimed is disputed and unless the 1st respondent renders a true account of the loan, there will be injustice rendered as held in DAVID NGUGI NGAARI .VS. KCB (2015) eKLR .
They, therefore pray for application to be granted as prayed. The respondent filed their written submission on 14. 8.2019 submitted that the claimants were members of the 1st respondent and that they sought and were advanced a loan facility of Kshs. 50 million in 2017 and they offered the said land as security.
That later Kshs.12 million was disbursed into the 2nd claimants account and the claimants were to pay in monthly installments of Kshs. 1,469,165/.
That the 1st claimants accepted the condition to bank with the 1st respondent all incomes available in their business.
That the claimants refused to pay the said loan amount which accrued with interest up to Kshs. 76,023,087/10. That these arrears is 602 days of members money.
That it is not true that the claimant have been repaying the amounts.
We have carefully considered the submissions of the parties and the evidence on record and find that it is not disputed that the claimants are indebted to the respondents. What is in dispute is the amount owed. We also note that the 1st respondent advertised the sale of the property.
We have noted the issues raised in the application as well as in the written submission. We note that some of this issues should be determined by way of evidence hence at this point we will determine the merits in the application for issuance of injunctive orders and the taking of accounts.
The claimants have established ownership of the land parcel and that if the said land parcel is to be sold by way of public auction would occasion irreparable harm which cannot be compensated by an award of damages.
We note that the amounts owed are disputed and despite the fact that the claimant admits indebtness, they have a submitted willingness to repay hence exercise of statutory power of sale may not be a good option in the 1st instance.
This is because the claimant has also disputed the validity of the charge instrument in exercise of the statutory power of sale.
The claimants have also disputed the increase of interest rate unilaterally we find that these are issues which can be determined in the main suit.
In order to preserve the suit property in the interest of justice, we find that the claimant has established the threshold required in issuance of injunctive orders in terms of prayers 2 & 3.
On prayer 4 we find that it is important to establish the amount owed and we grant the same.
For prayer 5 the same is granted pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
Costs in the cause.
Read and delivered in an open court this 7th day of November 2019
In the presence of ;-
Claimant:None-appearance
Respondent:None-appearance
Court Assistant:Leweri and Buluma
B. Kimemia - Chairman -signed
R. Mwambura - Member -signed
P. Swanya - Member -signed