[2023] KEELRC 210 (KLR)
The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that the claim was improperly filed before it, as the pleadings and salary amount indicated that the matter fell within the monetary jurisdiction of the Chief Magistrate's Court. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the claim, and that all...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEELRC 210 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: David Maina Kiarie; Respondent: Palm Oil Transporters Limited
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause E568 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Employment Cause / Ruling on Jurisdiction and Transfer
- Outcome
- proceedings set aside and matter transferred for want of jurisdiction
- Judges
- J Rika
- Legal Topics
- Jurisdiction of Court, Transfer of Proceedings, Employment Claims, Monetary Jurisdiction
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
David Maina Kiarie
Applicant
Palm Oil Transporters Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Ruling on Jurisdiction and Transfer
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Employment and Labour Relations Court had jurisdiction to hear the claim initially filed in the Chief Magistrate's Court.
- 2 Whether proceedings conducted in the wrong court should be set aside and the matter transferred.
Ratio Decidendi
The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that the claim was improperly filed before it, as the pleadings and salary amount indicated that the matter fell within the monetary jurisdiction of the Chief Magistrate's Court. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the claim, and that all proceedings conducted before it were a nullity. Consequently, the proceedings were set aside and the matter was transferred to the Chief Magistrate's Court at Nairobi for fresh hearing and disposal.
Court Disposition
proceedings set aside and matter transferred for want of jurisdiction
Orders
- The proceedings of this Court dating from 17th December 2020 to 30th November 2022 are reviewed and set aside.
- The matter is transferred to the Chief Magistrate’s Court Nairobi for fresh hearing and disposal.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
Kiarie v Palm Oil Transporters Limited (Cause E568 of 2020) [2023] KEELRC 210 (KLR) (31 January 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEELRC 210 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
Cause E568 of 2020
J Rika, J
January 31, 2023
Between
David Maina Kiarie
Claimant
and
Palm Oil Transporters Limited
Respondent
Ruling
1. The Statement of Claim is dated 22nd September 2020.
2. It is indicated to have been filed, In the Magistrate’s Court at Nairobi
3. The Statement of Response dated 20th January 2021 similarly indicates it was filed In the Magistrate’s Court at Nairobi.
4. The Submissions filed by the Claimant dated 31st October 2022, state that the Claim was filed IN the High Court At Nairobi.
5. The List of Issues filed by the Claimant dated 22nd July 2021, were filed In the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Nairobi.
6. The Claim was placed before the undersigned Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, heard virtually and hearing closed, on 23rd September 2022. Parties were advised on 30th November 2022, that Judgment would be delivered on Notice.
7. It is in the course of reviewing the Parties’ Pleadings in preparation of the Judgment, that the Court has realized the Claim was improperly presented before it. Proceedings and the Pleadings have a fundamental flaw, and Judgment prepared and delivered by a different jurisdiction from that indicated in the Pleadings, cannot stand the test of legality.
8. Filing was meant to be Inthe Chief Magistrate’s Court At Nairobi.
9. The Claimant’s salary is indicated to have been Kshs. 25,000 monthly, within the jurisdiction of the Chief Magistrate’s Court.
10. The Registry Staff at the E&LRC Nairobi, should not have accepted the Pleadings, filed in 2020, and the matter ought not to have been processed for hearing, and heard, before the Employment and Labour Relations Court.It is ordered: -a.The proceedings of this Court dating from 17th December 2020 to 30th November 2022 are reviewed and set aside.b.The matter is transferred to the Chief Magistrate’s Court Nairobi for fresh hearing and disposal.c.No order on the costs.
DATED, SIGNED AND RELEASED TO THE PARTIES ELECTRONICALLY, AT NAIROBI, UNDER THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND JUDICIARY COVID-19 GUIDELINES, THIS 31ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2023. JAMES RIKAJUDGE