[2023] KEMC 217 (KLR)

Mukoya v Nduati & another (Civil Suit 549 of 2020) [2023] KEMC 217 (KLR) (23 August 2023) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEMC 217 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Milimani Commercial Chief Magistrate's Courts

Civil Suit 549 of 2020

JP Aduke, SRM

August 23, 2023

Between

Rose Mmbone Mukoya

Plaintiff

and

Edward Kariuki Nduati & another

Defendant

Judgment

1. The Plaintiff filed this suit against the defendants after she sustained injuries following a road traffic accident on 31st December 2019 at Haile Selasie Avenue in Nairobi. In the plaint on record, the plaintiff avers she was a lawful pedestrian when the 1st Defendant and his servant/agent/authorized driver of motor vehicle registration number KCB 705M negligently and carelessly drove the said motor vehicle and knocked down the Plaintiff causing the Plaintiff to suffer injuries.

2. The Plaintiff blames the Defendants and their agents/authorized servants for causing the said accident. The Plaintiff further avers that the said accident was solely caused by the negligence of the Defendants.

3. The particulars of injuries sustained by the Plaintiff are captured in para 5 of the Plaint while the particulars of alleged negligence are captured in para 4 of the Plaint. The Plaintiff prays for general damages for pain and suffering, special damages, costs of the suit and interest.

4. Return of Service on Record shows that the defendants were served with the suit papers. The suit is defended. At the hearing, the plaintiff called two witnesses who testified on oath and adopted their witness statements on record as their evidence in chief while the defence elected not to call any witnesses to the stand. Parties filed and exchanged written submissions.

5. The issues for determination before this court are:

Liability; 6. With respect to Liability, I have seen a copy of the Abstract from Police Records confirming further details in respect of the accident victim and the said motor vehicle registration number KCB 705M. I have seen a copy of the Motor Vehicle Copy of Records confirming that the 2nd defendant is the registered owner of the said motor vehicle as at 04th February 2020. The accident happened in December 2019. I have also relied on the testimony of PW1 on record, who asserted that she was on the side of the road/roundabout when the accident happened, and was not crossing the road. This confirmation and chronology settles the issue of liability in my view. For the avoidance of doubt, I find that liability is apportioned at a ratio of 100:0 in favor of the Plaintiff.

Quontum 7. The Plaintiff prays for General Damages, Special Damages, Costs of the Suit and any other relief. With respect to Special Damages, the Plaint prays for KES 4,200/- as captured in para 5 of the Plaint. I have seen receipts on record attesting to KES 4,200/-. It is settled principle that special damages must be pleaded and proved (see John Kibicho vs Emmanuel P Mkoitiko [2017] eKLR). I find that KES 4,200/- has been pleaded and proved and award the same. In Christine Mwigina Akonya vs Samuel Kairu Chege [2017] eKLR the court stated thus:“Our decisional law is quite clear now that one consequence of this general principle is that a party claiming special damages must demonstrate that they actually made the payments or suffered the specific injury before the compensation will be granted…….the courts have insisted that a party must present actual receipts of payments made to substantiate loss or economic injury. It is not enough for a party to provide profoma invoices sent to the party by a third party. Our courts have held that an invoice is not proof of payment and that only a receipt meets the test…”

8. I have relied on the above reasoning of the court in arriving at my findings on special damages in the present case.

9. With respect to general damages, I have considered all the submissions on record and the authorities annexed thereto. I have also considered all the exhibits on record. In particular, I have relied on the reasoning of the court in HCCA 54 2016 Ndungu Dennis vs Ann Wangari & Another and Nyambati Nyaswabu Erick vs Toyota Kenya Limited & others [2019] Eklr where the court awarded general damages for comparable injuries. The plaintiff in this instance suffered soft tissue injuries when the accident happened. Taking into account that no amount of damages can restore the Plaintiff to what she was prior to the said accident, the rate of inflation and cost of living, I hereby award KES 100,000/- as general damages.

10. In conclusion, I enter judgement in favour of the plaintiff as follows:1. General damages KES 100,000/-2. Special damages KES 4,200/-3. Costs of the suit.4. Interest on 1 and 3 above at court rates.

11. The Plaintiff shall have costs in this suit and interests at court rates from the date of this judgement until payment in full.ROA 12. File Closed.

ADUKE JEAL PRAXADES ATIENOSENIOR RESIDENT MAGISTRATEJUDGEMENT SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY IN NAIROBI THIS 23RD AUGUST 2023. In the presence of:1. Court Assistant: Benjamin Kombe.2. Counsel for the Plaintiff-…………………………………………………………………………(Name, Signature, Date)3. For the Defence:……………………………………………………………………………(Name, Signature, Date)