[2025] KEHC 6553 (KLR)

[2025] KEHC 6553 (KLR)

The High Court found that the trial magistrate correctly awarded repair costs based on the uncontroverted assessor's report, as the respondent provided sufficient evidence of the extent of damage and cost to restore the vehicle. However, the award for loss of user for 62 days was not supported by adequate proof, as...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] KEHC 6553 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: Omocha Enterprises Limited; Appellant: Richard Onkundi Onchari; Respondent: Ondieki Kelvin Mwebi
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Kisii
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal E114 of 2024
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal partially allowed; award for loss of user reduced; repair costs award upheld; each party to bear own costs.
Judges
DKN Magare
Legal Topics
Material Damage, Special Damages, Loss of User, Burden of Proof, Assessment of Damages
Source Language
en
Tort Law Civil Procedure Material Damage Special Damages Loss of User Burden of Proof Assessment of Damages

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Parties

Omocha Enterprises Limited

Appellant

Richard Onkundi Onchari

Appellant

Ondieki Kelvin Mwebi

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the trial court erred in awarding special damages for repair costs without sufficient evidence.
  2. 2 Whether the award for loss of user for 62 days was excessive and unsupported by evidence.
  3. 3 Whether the trial court improperly shifted the burden of proof to the appellants.

Ratio Decidendi

The High Court found that the trial magistrate correctly awarded repair costs based on the uncontroverted assessor's report, as the respondent provided sufficient evidence of the extent of damage and cost to restore the vehicle. However, the award for loss of user for 62 days was not supported by adequate proof, as neither the respondent nor the evidence established the actual period the vehicle was out of use. The court determined that 17 days was a reasonable period for loss of user, based on the time from the accident to the completion of repairs as indicated by the assessor's report and the circumstances. The appeal was allowed only to the extent of reducing the loss of user award to...

Court Disposition

Appeal partially allowed; award for loss of user reduced; repair costs award upheld; each party to bear own costs.

Orders

  • The appeal against the award on repair costs is dismissed.
  • Judgment of the lower court on the award of damages for loss of user is set aside and substituted with an award of Ksh. 102,000.