[2013] KEHC 4698 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)

Petition 490 of 2012 [if !mso]> <style> v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]

KENYA SOCIETY FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.................PETITIONER

AND

SAMUEL NJUGUNA KABUE...................................................1ST RESPONDENT

HELLEN MUDORA OBANDE.................................................2ND RESPONDENT

PHOEBE A NYAGUDI..............................................................3RD RESPONDENT

JOHN S HALAKE.....................................................................4TH RESPONDENT

PATIENCE CHOME..................................................................5TH RESPONDENT

PHITALIS WERE MASAKHWE..............................................6TH RESPONDENT

JULIUS NABENDE....................................................................7TH RESPONDENT

HON JOSEPHINE SINYO.........................................................8TH RESPONDENT

HON JUSTIN MUTURI..............................................................9TH RESPONDENT

MUTHONI KIHARA.................................................................10TH RESPONDENT

JOSEPH M SHIROKO............................................................11TH RESPONDENT

SIMON J NDUBAI...................................................................12TH RESPONDENT

SUSAN KIRIM A......................................................................13TH RESPONDENT

EUNICE KAHOI.......................................................................14TH RESPONDENT

JOSEPH WAMATHAGA.........................................................15TH RESPONDENT

CATHERINE AMUNGA WAMEYO..........................................16TH RESPONDENT

LYNNETE MUGANDA..............................................................17TH RESPONDENT

BEATRICE ODUNDO...............................................................18TH RESPONDENT

CECILIA MBAKA.....................................................................19TH RESPONDENT

KIZITO OMUKANGA...............................................................20TH RESPONDENT

BEATRICE ODUNDO..............................................................21ST RESPONDENT

ISAAC SIMIYU MANYONGE.................................................22ND RESPONDENT

JOSEPHINE PAKATA.............................................................23RD RESPONDENT

JACKSON LOKWATOM........................................................24TH RESPONDENT

KIZITO OMUKANGA.............................................................25TH RESPONDENT

JOHN F OLINGA.....................................................................26TH RESPONDENT

BEATRICE ODUNDO.............................................................27TH RESPONDENT

FRANCIS ASIEMA..................................................................28TH RESPONDENT

JAYNE ASUMA.......................................................................29TH RESPONDENT

CHARLES O ANYANGO........................................................30TH RESPONDENT

RUKIA AHMED.......................................................................31ST RESPONDENT

SIMON J NDUBAI..................................................................32ND RESPONDENT

DAVID OLE SANKOK...........................................................33RD RESPONDENT

ANASTACIA MAGOMA.........................................................34TH RESPONDENT

SALOME WANJIKU KIMATA................................................35TH RESPONDENT

TOM GICHUHI.........................................................................36TH RESPONDENT

PADDY ONYANGO..................................................................37TH RESPONDENT

FLORENCE PAKATA...............................................................38TH RESPONDENT

GEOFFREY M WATHIGO........................................................39TH RESPONDENT

JOSEPHAT O MUKOBE........................................................40TH RESPONDENT

MBARAK S TWAHIR.............................................................41ST RESPONDENT

TITUS M KILIKA....................................................................42ND RESPONDENT

ANNE MUTHONI KAGWI.....................................................43RD RESPONDENT

ISAAC MUIGUA MWAURA...................................................44TH RESPONDENT

GODLIVER OMONDI..............................................................45TH RESPONDENT

FATMA WANGARE HAJI.......................................................46TH RESPONDENT

ALICE MITINE.........................................................................47TH RESPONDENT

JAMES KARIUKI NDWIGA...................................................48TH RESPONDENT

PETER WANGO .....................................................................50TH RESPONDENT

RULING

1. The genesis of this matter is a dispute between the Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped and the respondents, some of who hold various offices in a statutory body, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

2. On 24th January 2013, I granted leave to the petitioner to withdraw the petition with no order as to costs. In view of the said withdrawal, the cross petition remains in place and I directed the respondents to show cause why the cross petition should not be struck out.

3. The cross petition is dated 30th November 2012 and the main grievance is that the petition was filed with malice, ill will and bad faith towards the respondents particularly given the nature of allegations made against them as officers of a statutory body and the fact that the petition was advertised without leave of this court.

4. My position in the matter is that parties have the right to institute proceedings within our courts particularly to vindicate their fundamental rights and freedom. If words are stated that are defamatory in nature, then a party has a right to have the scandalous and embarrassing material struck out and ordinarily the court will award costs. The cross petition, in my view is such an application. I think it would be against public policy and would undermine the right of access to court guaranteed under Article 22and48 to expose a party to legal proceedings to damage merely on account of matters said and done within proceedings. This is why I will disallow the cross-petition.

5. If matters are said outside the court or published, of and concerning the respondents, in a manner that their reputations are sullied, then the law of defamation provides adequate relief as those matters are clearly outside court proceedings and do not enjoy the sanction of the court. As I have stated the cross-petitioner’s relief in this matter is limited to an award of costs which in this case are deserved.

6. In my view then the proper orders are as follows;

(1)The cross-petition dated 30th November 2012 be and is hereby struck out.

(2)The petitioner shall bear the costs of the cross petitioners.

DATEDand DELIVERED at NAIROBI this 11th March 2013.

D.S. MAJANJA

JUDGE

Ms Ashioya instructed by Ashioya and Company Advocates for the respondents.