[2025] KEELC 3676 (KLR)
The court found that, despite previous rulings and the parties' ability to agree on the release of funds, the interests of justice required a final order to resolve the matter. The court determined that the application, though arguably unnecessary, could not be ignored and that the taxed costs should be released as...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEELC 3676 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Kkenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited; Defendant: Marula Estates Limited
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 310 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Release of Funds
- Outcome
- application granted
- Judges
- A Ombwayo
- Legal Topics
- Release of Funds, Taxed Costs, Escrow Accounts, Functus Officio, Court Jurisdiction
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kkenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited
Applicant
Marula Estates Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Release of Funds
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court has jurisdiction to order the release of funds from the joint escrow account after previous rulings on the same issue.
- 2 Whether the application for release of taxed costs is premature in the absence of a decree supporting the certificate of costs.
- 3 Whether the court should compel the bank to release the specified funds to the applicant's advocates.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, despite previous rulings and the parties' ability to agree on the release of funds, the interests of justice required a final order to resolve the matter. The court determined that the application, though arguably unnecessary, could not be ignored and that the taxed costs should be released as sought. The court thus granted the order compelling Stanbic Bank (K) Limited Chiromo Branch to release KES 12,437,240 from the escrow account to the applicant's advocates, bringing closure to the issue and enabling the court to focus on other judicial duties. The court made no order as to costs, emphasizing the need for parties to resolve such matters amicably where possible.
Court Disposition
application granted
Orders
- Stanbic Bank (K) Limited Chiromo Branch is directed and compelled to release the sum of Kenya Shillings Twelve Million Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Forty (KES 12,437,240) being taxed costs from the escrow account to the account held by Messrs. z Ochieng Opiyo & Co. Advocates at Stanbic Bank...
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
18 paragraphs
Kkenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited v Marula Estates Limited (Environment & Land Case 310 of 2018) [2025] KEELC 3676 (KLR) (9 May 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEELC 3676 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Nakuru
Environment & Land Case 310 of 2018
A Ombwayo, J
May 9, 2025
Between
Kkenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited
Applicant
and
Marula Estates Limited
Defendant
Ruling
1. This matter should be brought to a close to enable the court undertake other judicial duties and court order should be complied with. Many applications have been filed in this court on issues that parties can agree. Such is the issue of release of the funds held in the joint account of the advocates. The application dated 16/4/2025 is not necessary as parties can agree, but since it has been filed the court cannot ignore the same. The applicant seeks orders that this Honorable Court be pleased to grant an Order directing/compelling Stanbic Bank (K) Limited Chiromo Branch to release the sum of Kenya Shillings Twelve Million Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Forty being taxed costs from the Escrow Account Number XXXXXXXXXXXX to Account Number XXXXXXXXXXXX held by the firm of Messrs. z Ochieng Opiyo & Co. Advocates Stanbic Bank (K) Limited - Chiromo Branch.
2. The application is opposed by the defendants on grounds that the court lands jurisdiction to determine the issue as it had made its determination. This Court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the application as the Court has already made a finding on the question of release of the funds in the joint interest earning account vide its ruling of 1 8th November 2024 and 4th April 2025 and is thus functus officio. The Application is premature and devoid of merit as there is no decree in support of the Certificate of Costs to warrant execution through exercise of this Honorable Court's power pursuant to Section 38 of the Civil Procedure Act, Order 21 Rule 9 and Order 22 of the Civil Procedure Rules. No application has been made by the Plaintiff for the adoption of the Certificate of Costs dated 25th February 2025 as a judgment of the Court and subsequent extraction of a decree to warrant execution. No orders as to costs.
3. I have considered the application rival submissions and do find that this not an issue to belabor the court, both counsel have used a lot of ink and paper on issue that they can easily agree on. In the interest of justice, I do grant an Order directing/compelling Stanbic Bank (K) Limited Chiromo Branch to release the sum of Kenya Shillings Twelve Million Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Forty being taxed costs from the Escrow Account Number XXXXXXXXXXXX to Account Number XXXXXXXXXXXX held by the firm of Messrs. z Ochieng Opiyo & Co. Advocates Stanbic Bank (K) Limited - Chiromo Branch. No order as to costs.
SIGNED BY: HON. JUSTICE ANTONY O. OMBWAYOTHE JUDICIARY OF KENYA.NAKURU ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURTENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURTDATE: 2025-05-09 15:08:41Doc IDENTITY: 478151214857481552720194590 TrackingNumber:OO8PMJ2025