[2021] KETLABT 310 (KLR)
The Board found that the dispute before it involved the same parties and issues as a case already pending before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ngong. Proceeding with the appeal would violate the sub judice rule, which prohibits parallel litigation of the same matter in different forums. The Board exercised its...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KETLABT 310 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Justus Musabe Misiani; Appellant: Fredrick Mwangi Mbuthia; Respondent: National Transport and Safety Authority; Respondent: Super Metro Limited
- Court
- Transport Licensing Appeals Board Tribunal
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Tribunal Case 2 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Public Participation, Fair Administrative Action, Licensing Disputes, Sub Judice Rule
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Justus Musabe Misiani
Appellant
Fredrick Mwangi Mbuthia
Appellant
National Transport and Safety Authority
Respondent
Super Metro Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the licensing of Super Metro Limited was conducted without adequate public participation, contrary to statutory and constitutional requirements.
- 2 Whether the Transport Licensing Appeals Board should proceed with the appeal when a similar matter is pending before the Chief Magistrate’s Court (sub judice).
Ratio Decidendi
The Board found that the dispute before it involved the same parties and issues as a case already pending before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ngong. Proceeding with the appeal would violate the sub judice rule, which prohibits parallel litigation of the same matter in different forums. The Board exercised its discretion under section 39(7) of the NTSA Act to regulate its proceedings and determined that it was not in the interest of justice to continue with the appeal. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed to avoid conflicting decisions and to uphold judicial integrity.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
30 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
TRANSPORT LICENSING APPEALS BOARD
CASE NO. 2 OF 2021
JUSTUS MUSABE MISIANI
FREDRICK MWANGI MBUTHIA....................................................................APPELLANTS
-VERSUS-
NATIONAL TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AUTHORITY..................FIRST RESPONDENT
SUPER METRO LIMITED...............................................................SECOND RESPONDENT
RULING
Introduction
1. The Appellants are objectors to the issuance of a license to Super Metro Limited, which is licensed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to operate public service vehicles.
2. The First Respondent, NTSA, is established under section 3 of the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012 and has the responsibility to: advise and make recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to road transport and safety, implement policies relating to road transport and safety; plan, manage and regulate the road transport system; ensure the provision of safe, reliable, and efficient road transport services and to administer the Traffic Act.
3. The Second Respondent is a company that is licensed by the Respondent to operate public service vehicles.
Justus Mithani and Fredrick Mbuthia Case
1. Justus and Fredrick averred that the licensing of Super Metro had created unfair competition to an already crowded route and that the decision to license the company did not involve the operators of Ngong Nairobi route. It was argued that this fell short of meeting the threshold for public participation. Justus and Fredrick relied on section 5 of the Fair Administrative Action Act as well as Articles 27, 33 and 47 of the Constitution.
2. It was Justus and Fredrick’s argument that section 5 of the Fair Administrative Action Act requires that public notice should be issued where a proposed action is likely to materially and adversely affect the legal rights or interests of a group of persons or the general public.
Super Metro’s Case
3. In a replying affidavit dated 13th August 2021, Nelson Mwangi Nduki, who is a director and a shareholder of Super Metro, averred that there is a case pending at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ngong that is similar to the one at the Transport Licensing Appeals Board (TLAB). The case number is MCCRE 064/2021, Dennis Oeri Makori (suing on behalf of NTVRS Matatu Sacco v Super Metro, County Government of Kajiado and NTSA. The orders sought under this case are similar to the ones sought at TLAB.
4. Dennis Makori appeared before TLAB on August 16, 2021 and confirmed during his cross examination that there is a similar matter pending at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ngong.
Determination
5. The case before the Chief Magistrate’s Court concerns a dispute between the same two parties that are before TLAB. We find that it would not be in the interest of justice to continue with our proceedings when the matter is pending in a different court. Doing so would render the matter before us sub judice. We exercise this discretion by virtue of section 39 (7) of the NTSA Act, which provides that “the Appeals Board shall regulate its procedure and proceedings as it may consider appropriate.”
ORDERS
6. Having considered the facts and the law applicable to this case, the Transport Licensing Appeals Board hereby makes the following ORDERS:
a. THAT the appeal is dismissed.
DELIVERED, DATED, AND SIGNED IN NAIVASHA BY THE TRANSPORT LICENSING APPEALS BOARD ON THIS 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021.
DICK WAWERU CHAIRMAN ……………………….
PROF. KIARIE MWAURA MEMBER ………………………..
ADEN NOOR ALI MEMBER ……………………….
BETTY CHEPNG’ETICH BII MEMBER ……………………….
MOSES PARANTAI MEMBER …………………….....