[2019] KEHC 6281 (KLR)
The court found that the defendant had made an unequivocal admission of liability for the sum claimed by the plaintiff, as evidenced by the consent agreement dated 26th November 2018. The defendant's failure to file a defence or respond to the application for summary judgment further reinforced the absence of any...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 6281 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Mosound Events Ltd; Respondent: County Government of Narok
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Narok
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 3 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Application for Summary Judgment
- Outcome
- Judgment entered for the plaintiff as prayed in the notice of motion dated 22nd February 2019.
- Legal Topics
- Summary Judgment, Admission of Liability, Contractual Debt, Consent Agreements
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mosound Events Ltd
Applicant
County Government of Narok
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Application for Summary Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendant's admission of indebtedness entitles the plaintiff to summary judgment.
- 2 Whether further trial is necessary in light of the unequivocal admission by the defendant.
- 3 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to costs of the suit and application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the defendant had made an unequivocal admission of liability for the sum claimed by the plaintiff, as evidenced by the consent agreement dated 26th November 2018. The defendant's failure to file a defence or respond to the application for summary judgment further reinforced the absence of any genuine dispute. The court held that proceeding to trial would be unnecessary and contrary to the overriding objective of expeditious and cost-effective resolution of disputes. Accordingly, judgment was entered for the plaintiff as prayed, including costs.
Court Disposition
Judgment entered for the plaintiff as prayed in the notice of motion dated 22nd February 2019.
Orders
- Judgment is entered for the plaintiff against the defendant as pleaded in the plaint and on the voluntary admission of indebtedness.
- The costs of the suit and the instant application are awarded to the plaintiff.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAROK
CIVIL CASE NO 3 OF 2019
MOSOUND EVENTS LTD.............................APPLICANT
VERSUS
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NAROK...RESPONDENT
RULING
1. Pursuant to the provisions of Order 13 Rule 2 and Order 51 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules, section 1A,1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act (Cap 21) Laws of Kenya the plaintiff seeks the following orders from this court.
1. An order that judgement in this suit be entered for the plaintiff against the defendant as pleaded in the plaint and on the voluntary admission of indebtedness to the plaintiff.
2. An order that the costs of the suit and the instant application be awarded to the plaintiff.
2. The application is supported by seven grounds that are set out on the face of the notice of motion. It is also supported by an eleven grounds supporting affidavit deponed to by its finance director (Mr. Charles Chege).
3. The major grounds in support of the application are as follows. The plaintiff claims from the defendant a liquated sum of Shs nineteen million, nine hundred thousand (Kshs 19,900,000), being sums of money accruing from a fulfilment of a tender number NCG/101/2015-2016 in the defendant’s favour. Following the foregoing claim a consent agreement dated 26th November 2018 was entered into, in which the defendant admitted owing the plaintiff a sum of Kshs 19,900,000. In that agreement it was also agreed that the defendant was to liquidate the debt by monthly instalments of Shs four million (Shs 4,000,000) as from 5th December 2018 until payment in full. A copy of the consent agreement is annexed and marked “CC 2”. That despite the defendant’s admission of indebtedness to the plaintiff, the defendant has neglected, refused, and/or declined to settle its obligation to the plaintiff.
4. Finally, following advice from their advocates, the plaintiff believes that going for trial in the light of the clear and unequivocal admission by the defendant would only serve to escalate costs, waste judicial time, and delay justice.
5. The defendant has not entered any defence to the claim. Additionally, the defendant has also not filed any response to the application for summary judgement. When the matter came up for hearing on 6th June 2019, Mr. Kamwaro who held Mr. Kemboy’s brief applied for an adjournment in order to seek instructions with a view to settle the matter out of court. Mr. Elkington opposed the application on the basis that the matter had been adjourned several times.
6. I have considered the foregoing matters and I find that the admission of liability by the defendant is unequivocal. In the circumstances, I hereby enter judgment for the plaintiff in terms of prayers 1 and 2 of the notice of motion dated 22nd February 2019.
Ruling signed, dated and delivered at Narok this 27th day of June 2019in the presence of Mr. Yenko holding brief for Mr. Elkington and Mr. ombati holding brief for Mr. Kemboy.
J. M. Bwonwonga
Judge
27/6/2019