[2024] KEELRC 134 (KLR)

Langat v Governor, County Government of Bomet & 4 others (Judicial Review Miscellaneous Application E001 of 2023) [2024] KEELRC 134 (KLR) (6 February 2024) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEELRC 134 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Kericho

Judicial Review Miscellaneous Application E001 of 2023

HS Wasilwa, J

February 6, 2024

Between

Dickson Kipkorir Langat

Applicant

and

Governor, County Government of Bomet

1st Respondent

County Secretary, Bomet County

2nd Respondent

Bomet County Public Service Board

3rd Respondent

Chief Executive Committee Member of Finance, Bomet County

4th Respondent

Chief Officer, Finance Bomet County

5th Respondent

Judgment

1. Before me for determination is the Applicant’s Chamber Summons dated 29th March, 2023, brought pursuant to Sections 8,9 & 10 of the Law Reforms Act, Order 53, Rule 1&2 of the Civil Procedure Rules and all other enabling provisions of the law, seeking for the following Orders; -1. Spent.2. That leave be granted to the ex parte applicant to apply for an order of Mandamus to issue against the 2nd, 4th and 5th Respondents namely County Secretary, Bomet County, Chief Executive Committee member for Finance, Bomet County and Chief Officer, Finance Bomet County, to compel them to proceed and pay out decretal sum of Kshs 207,200 being costs in Kericho ELRC Cause No. 1 of 2018, together with interest accrued from the date of decree.3. That the court do grant leave to the ex parte applicant, in default of payment to apply to cite and hold the Respondents to be in contempt of Court.4. That the Honourable court do grant such further orders and or consequential orders for purposes of enforcing the ex parte applicant’s judgement or decree herein.5. That the costs of and incidental to this Application be provided for.

2. The Application herein is based on the grounds on the face of the application and the supporting affidavit of Joshua Kipkemboi Mutai, the Advocate ceased of the conduct of this matter on behalf of the ex parte Applicant.

3. The Advocate herein stated that he represented the ex parte Applicant herein in the ELRC Cause No. 1 of 2018, where he had been unfairly terminated. Upon filling the suit, the parties compromised the case therein and recorded a consent dated 22nd May, 2018 and costs was granted in favour of the claimant.

4. Consequently, he filed a party to party Bill of costs, which was taxed and a certificate of costs issued on the 17th December, 2019 for the sum of Kshs 207, 200.

5. That he served the said certificate of costs upon the Respondents but that the said costs remain unpaid to date despite several demands and reminders thereof.

6. He stated that the actions of the Respondents are unlawful and amounts to abuse of powers as such he urged this Court to grant him leave to file a substantive motion and in effect allow the Application herein as prayed.

7. Despite service of the application herein upon the Respondent’s advocates on the 27th July, 2023 as evidence by the affidavit of service sworn by Joshua Kipkemoi Mutai on the 2nd October, 2023, the Respondent did not enter any appearance or file any response but on the 23rd May, 2023, the Respondent through their advocate, Langat John Mark, appeared in this Court and gave an undertaking to pay the costs within 2 weeks and even told this Court that the payments had been processed, however than none has been paid to the Applicant to date.

8. Direction were given for the application herein to be canvassed by written submission, which the Applicant herein filed on the 31st October, 2023, while none was filed by the Respondents.

Applicant’s Submissions. 9. The Applicant submitted that the issue of quantum of costs and or taxation of the same is not in dispute and that the only issue is payment of costs due to the advocate as the same was not contested by the Respondents. It was argued that the Respondents have been making promises of satisfying the said costs for the last three years and none of the promises has materialized, causing the Applicant herein to file this Application demanding to be paid the said sum of money. In this he cited the case of Republic V County Government of Kiambu Ex parte Laban J Macharia Muiruri [2021] eklr where the Court held that; -“As to whether the Respondent herein is under a duty to pay the subject decretal sums, an order of mandamus is normally issued when an officer or an authority by compulsion of law or statute is required to perform a duty, and that duty, despite demand in writing, has not been performed. Execution proceedings against a government or public authority under the Government Proceedings Act can only be as against the accounting officer or chief officer of the said government or authority, who is under a statutory duty to satisfy a judgment made by the Court against that body.”

10. The Applicant also cited the case of Republic vs. Town Clerk of Webuye County Council & Another HCCC 448 of 2006 wherein Majanja J. addressed the importance of the Court in ensuring that the right of a successful litigant enjoys the fruits of his judgement as follows:“...a decree holder’s right to enjoy fruits of his judgment must not be thwarted. When faced with such a scenario the Court should adopt an interpretation that favours enforcement and as far as possible secures accrued rights. My reasoning is underpinned by the values of the Constitution particularized in Article 10, the obligation of the court to do justice to the parties and to do so without delay under Article 159 (2) (a) & (b) and the Applicant’s right of access to justice protected under Article 48 of the Constitution.

11. In conclusion, the Applicant urged this Court to allow the application herein and compel the Respondent to pay the costs of Kshs 207,200 together with interest at 12% per annum from 19th November, 2020 which is equivalent to Kshs 74,592. Further award him costs of the Application which he assessed at Kshs 70,000 owing to the length of time it has taken in court owing to delay cause by inaction by the Respondents all adding up to Kshs 351,792.

12. I have examined the averments and submissions of the applicant herein.

13. It is apparent that the applicant has established his case as required by law.

14. I therefore allow this application as prayed and grant the order of mandamus to issue against the respondents to compel them to proceed and pay out the decretal sum of kshs.207,200/= being costs in Kericho ELRC Cause No. 1 of 2018 together with interest accrued from the date of this order.

15. Costs be borne by the respondents.

DATED AND DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT THIS 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024. HON. LADY JUSTICE HELLEN WASILWAJUDGEIn the presence of:Mutai Joshua for Applicant - presentJoh Mark for Respondent – presentCourt assistant - Fred