[2019] KEHC 1402 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, John Endeku Onzere, was not an appellant in the appeal and was merely a fare paying passenger with no control over the vehicles involved in the accident. The inclusion of the applicant in the apportionment of liability and costs was an error apparent on the face of the record. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 1402 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Kisaka John Gideon; Appellant: John Barasa; Respondent: John Endeku Onzere; Respondent: Bernard Lidanywa Madegwa; Respondent: Obiri Vuhunji
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 22 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Review of Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- HK Chemitei
- Legal Topics
- Review of Judgment, Apportionment of Liability, Costs Award, Motor Vehicle Accident
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kisaka John Gideon
Appellant
John Barasa
Appellant
John Endeku Onzere
Respondent
Bernard Lidanywa Madegwa
Respondent
Obiri Vuhunji
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Review of Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant, a fare paying passenger, should bear liability and costs arising from the accident as per the judgment.
- 2 Whether there was an error apparent on the face of the record justifying review under Order 45 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, John Endeku Onzere, was not an appellant in the appeal and was merely a fare paying passenger with no control over the vehicles involved in the accident. The inclusion of the applicant in the apportionment of liability and costs was an error apparent on the face of the record. The court exercised its power under Order 45 of the Civil Procedure Rules to review its earlier judgment, clarifying that liability and costs should be borne solely by the respondents, Bernard Lidanywa Madegwa and Obiri Vuhunji, and not by the applicant. The court further held that the matter was not res judicata as the clarification pertained only to the issue of liability...
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Liability at 100% is apportioned against Bernard Lidanywa Madegwa and Obiri Vuhunji, not John Endeku Onzere.
- Costs awarded shall be met by Bernard Lidanywa Madegwa and Obiri Vuhunji, not the applicant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KITALE
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 22 OF 2017
KISAKA JOHN GIDEON & ANO.....APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS
VERSES
JOHN ENDEKU ONZERE...............1ST RESPONDENT/APPLICANT
BERNARD LIDANYA MADEGWA .......................2ND RESPONDENT
OBIRI VUHUNJI.......................................................3RD RESPONDENT
RULING
1. The application dated 6th August, 2019 by the Applicant and supported by the affidavit of FRANCIS GACATHI advocate seeks to have the judgment of this court dated 23rd July, 2019 reviewed to the extent that the issues of costs and liability be removed as against the applicant. According to the application, the applicant who was the Respondent in the appeal was simply a fare paying passenger and not in any way in control of the motor vehicles that caused the accident.
2. The second and 3rd Respondents have filed grounds of opposition dated 20th September, 2019 as well as the Appellants. The submissions filed by the parties as well as the attached authorities have also been perused by the court.
3. The provisions of Order 45 rules 1 and 2 of the Civil Procedure gives this court the mandate to carry out a review in the event that there is an error apparent on the face of the record.
4. The issue raised by the applicant is well captured under paragraph 16 of the judgement which I stated as follows;
“in the premises, the appeal is hereby allowed. The trial court judgement on liability is hereby set aside to the extent that the Appellants are jointly and severally absolved from any liability. Liability at 100% is hereby apportioned against the Respondents. “
5. Obviously the applicant was not an Appellant in this appeal. The Appellants were JOHN KISAKA GIDEON and JOHN BARASA and the Respondents were BERNARD LIDANYWA MADEGWA and OBIRI VUHUNJI. Since the appeal succeeded against the Respondents, the Applicant JOHN ENDEKU ONZERE ought not to have borne any responsibility in terms of liability as well as costs.
6. It is not true as submitted by the 1st and 2nd Respondents in their grounds of opposition dated 20th September, 2019 that this matter is res judicata as the clarification is simply to do with the issue of liability between the owners of the two vehicles. The Applicant was simply a fare paying passenger.
7. In the premises, the application is hereby allowed and order that liability at 100% is against the Respondents and for avoidance of doubt BERNARD LIDANYA MADEGWA AND OBIRI VUHUNJI and not JOHN ENDEKU ONZERE. The costs awarded shall be met by the two mentioned Respondents and not the Applicant.
8. Each party shall meet its own costs in this application.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court this 18th day of December, 2019.
________________
H. K. CHEMITEI
JUDGE
18/12/19
In the presence of:-
Parties Absent
Court Assistant - Silvia
Ruling delivered in open court.