[2023] KEELC 21674 (KLR)
The court found that the defendant was not served with the notice to show cause prior to the issuance of the orders and subsequent execution proceedings. The notice to show cause required the defendant to appear on a Sunday, which is not a court day, further undermining the validity of the process. The application...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEELC 21674 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Susan Wanjiku Karanja (Suing Through Her Agent M/S Eunice Muthoni Warui); Defendant: Lawrence Mugambi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 411 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion to Set Aside Orders and Stay Execution
- Outcome
- Application allowed. Orders and warrants set aside. No order as to costs.
- Judges
- JA Mogeni
- Legal Topics
- Service of Process, Setting Aside Orders, Stay of Execution, Notice to Show Cause
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Susan Wanjiku Karanja (Suing Through Her Agent M/S Eunice Muthoni Warui)
Plaintiff
Lawrence Mugambi
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion to Set Aside Orders and Stay Execution
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendant was properly served with the notice to show cause before orders were issued.
- 2 Whether the orders and directions made on 16th March 2023 and subsequent orders should be set aside.
- 3 Whether the warrants of attachment of movable properties should be lifted.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the defendant was not served with the notice to show cause prior to the issuance of the orders and subsequent execution proceedings. The notice to show cause required the defendant to appear on a Sunday, which is not a court day, further undermining the validity of the process. The application was filed without undue delay and was unopposed by the plaintiff. In the absence of proper service and in the interest of justice, the court allowed the application to set aside the orders and lifted the warrants of attachment. The matter was directed to proceed to pre-trial conference for hearing preparation.
Court Disposition
Application allowed. Orders and warrants set aside. No order as to costs.
Orders
- The application dated 26/05/2023 is allowed.
- Orders and directions made on 16/03/2023 and any subsequent orders are set aside.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
Karanja (Suing Through Her Agent M/S Eunice Muthoni Warui) v Mugambi (Environment & Land Case 411 of 2010) [2023] KEELC 21674 (KLR) (23 November 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 21674 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Environment & Land Case 411 of 2010
JA Mogeni, J
November 23, 2023
Between
Susan Wanjiku Karanja (Suing Through Her Agent M/S Eunice Muthoni Warui)
Plaintiff
and
Lawrence Mugambi
Defendant
Ruling
1. The Applicant filed the Notice of Motion dated 26/05/23 under Order 12 rules 1 and 7 Order 51 rule 1of the Civil Procedure Rules (2010), Section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act and on any other applicable provision of the Law seeking the following orders;1. Spent2. That the firm of Kamata & Company Advocates be granted leave to act for the defendant in this matter in place of Righa & Mburu Advocates as per the consent by the said two firms of advocates filed on the 23rd day of May 20233. That there be an order of stay of execution of warrants of attachment of movable properties issued to High Class Auctioneers dated 12th April 2023 pending the hearing of the application hereof inter partes4. That this Honorable Court be pleased to set aside the orders and directions that were made by Honorabe I.N Barasa P.M (DR) on the 16th day of March 2023 together with any other subsequent order/s that may have been issued.5. That warrants of attachment of movable properties in execution of a decree issued to High Class Auctioneers dated 12th day of April 2023 be lifted.6. That the costs of this application be met by the plaintiff/ Respondent.
2. Which application is based on two grounds the gist of the grounds advanced being that the defendant was never served with the notice to show cause. That Notice to show Cause dated 6/02/2023 indicates that the defendant was required to appear in court on 19/03/2023 and this was a Sunday.
3. The application is supported by the supporting affidavit of one Lawrence Mugambi who is the defendant in this matter.
4. I have read the Application before me and may I point out that the Application is unopposed as the same was not contested by the Plaintiff/Respondent. Secondly, the Applicant had filed the same without undue delay and from the record I do observe that no Notice to Show Cause was served upon the plaintiff prior to the orders issued by I.N Barasa on 16/03/2023 together with any other subsequent orders.
5. In view of the above I will allow the application dated 26/05/2023 with no orders as to costs. Parties to go for PTC before the DR to prepare the suit for hearing on 07/12/2023. It is so ordered.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 23RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023. MOGENI JJUDGEIn the virtual presence of:Ms. Sharon Njoki holding brief for Mr.Gatumuta for Plaintiff/RespondentNo appearance for the Defendant/ApplicantCaroline Sagina: Court AssistantMOGENI JJUDGE