[2010] KEHC 406 (KLR)
The court found that, in the absence of a repossession arrangement, the defendant must file suit and obtain judgment before attaching the 1st plaintiff's properties. Although the 1st plaintiff admitted owing sums to the defendant and did not come to court with entirely clean hands, the law requires the defendant to...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] KEHC 406 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Mumias Out-Growers Co. (1998) Ltd; Plaintiff: Another (not named); Respondent: CMC Motors Group Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 6 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
- Outcome
- Temporary injunction granted against the defendant pending further orders of the court. Costs in the cause.
- Judges
- A Ali-Aroni
- Legal Topics
- Interlocutory Injunctions, Attachment of Property, Equitable Remedies
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mumias Out-Growers Co. (1998) Ltd
Plaintiff
Another (not named)
Plaintiff
CMC Motors Group Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from attaching or repossessing the 1st plaintiff's tractors and properties pending determination of the suit.
- 2 Whether the defendant's actions in proclaiming the 1st plaintiff's goods without a valid judgment were lawful.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, in the absence of a repossession arrangement, the defendant must file suit and obtain judgment before attaching the 1st plaintiff's properties. Although the 1st plaintiff admitted owing sums to the defendant and did not come to court with entirely clean hands, the law requires the defendant to obtain a court order before attachment. Therefore, the court granted a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from attaching, repossessing, or interfering with the plaintiff's tractors and properties pending further orders, emphasizing the necessity of due process and judicial oversight before deprivation of property.
Court Disposition
Temporary injunction granted against the defendant pending further orders of the court. Costs in the cause.
Orders
- A temporary injunction is granted restraining the defendant by itself, its officers, employees, servants and/or agents from attaching, repossessing and/or interfering with the use or possession of the plaintiff’s tractors and/or properties pending further orders of the court.
- Costs in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISUMU
CIVIL CASE NO. 6 OF 2010
MUMIAS OUT-GROWERS CO. (1998) LTD & ANOTHER................. PLAINTIFFS
-VERSUS-
CMC MOTORS GROUP LIMITED................................................RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
1. The application before court is a Chamber Summons dated 21st January, 2010 brought pursuant to Section 3A, 63(e) of the Civil Procedure Act and Order XXXIX, Rule 1 2 & 9 of the Civil Procedure Rules; seeking for an order of temporary injunction against the defendant, restraining the defendant by itself, its officers, employees, servants and/or agents from attaching, repossessing any of the 1st plaintiff’s tractors and/or properties or interfering with its use and possession of the tractors and properties pending hearing and determination of the suit.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of D. M. Rapandothe 1st plaintiff’s Company Secretary and on the grounds that the respondent wrongfully proclaimed the 1st applicant’s goods without a valid judgment and therefore their action is unlawfully, illegal and null and void abnitio.
3. The defendant objected to the application by filing a replying affidavit dated 2nd February, 2010 sworn by one Dennis Musungu a branch Manager of the defendant. It is his contention that the 1st applicant owes the defendant money, secondly the 1st applicant failed to disclose material facts to the court, thirdly if any debenture exists with a third party the defendant is a total stranger to the same.
4. The issue for determination is whether or not to issue a temporary injunction pending hearing and determination of the suit.
The conditions upon which to grant an injunction are well settled in the case ofGIELLA VS CASSMAN BROWN LTD [1973]E. A.It is also to be noted that an injunction is an equitable remedy and he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
5. The facts laid by both parties have brought forth several issues; a dispute as to the amount outstanding, whether or not having sold spare parts and transferred the tractors to the 1st plaintiff and without an agreement for repossession the defendant can without a decree or lawfully court order simply move into the 1st defendant’s premises, proclaim and sell the 1st plaintiff’s property.
6. The court is of the view that the defendant must of necessity in the absence of a repossession arrangement file suit and obtain judgment against the 1st defendant before attaching the properties of the 1st defendant.
7. Noting though that the 1st plaintiff has not come to court with clean hands, as there is an admission by it of sums due but for reason given in 4 above, that the defendant has to move the court, before attachment the court reluctantly grants a temporary injunction against the defendant by itself, its officers, employees, servants and or agents from attaching, repossessing and/or interfering with the use or possession of the plaintiff’s tractors and/or properties pending further orders of the court.
8. Costs in the cause.
DATED AND DELIVERED IN KISUMU THIS 26TH NOVEMBER, 2010.
ALI-ARONI
JUDGE
In the presence of:
………………………………… present for plaintiff
……………………….…….present for defendant.