[2023] KEHC 22617 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant had served the respondent with the pleadings, as evidenced by the affidavit of service and the respondent's acknowledgment. The application for leave to apply for judicial review orders of mandamus is a procedural step toward recovery of costs against the County Government of...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 22617 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Otieno, Ragot & Co Advocates; Respondent: County Executive Member for Finance County Government of Kisumu
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Judicial Review Application 24 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Judicial Review Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Apply for Judicial Review
- Outcome
- Leave granted to apply for judicial review orders of mandamus; substantive motion to be filed and served within 21 days; each party to bear own costs; file closed.
- Judges
- RE Aburili
- Legal Topics
- Judicial Review, Mandamus, Public Finance Management, Government Liability
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Otieno, Ragot & Co Advocates
Applicant
County Executive Member for Finance County Government of Kisumu
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to Apply for Judicial Review
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant should be granted leave to apply for judicial review orders of mandamus against the respondent.
- 2 Whether the application should be adjourned due to alleged non-service of pleadings on the respondent.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had served the respondent with the pleadings, as evidenced by the affidavit of service and the respondent's acknowledgment. The application for leave to apply for judicial review orders of mandamus is a procedural step toward recovery of costs against the County Government of Kisumu. There was no justification for adjourning the matter, and the court granted leave to the applicant to file the substantive motion within 21 days. Each party was ordered to bear its own costs, and the file was closed.
Court Disposition
Leave granted to apply for judicial review orders of mandamus; substantive motion to be filed and served within 21 days; each party to bear own costs; file closed.
Orders
- Leave is granted to the ex parte applicant in terms of prayer No 1 of the Chamber summons dated May 3, 2023.
- The substantive motion shall be filed and served within 21 days of the ruling in a separate file.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
Otieno, Ragot & Co Advocates v County Executive Member for Finance County Government of Kisumu (Judicial Review Application 24 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 22617 (KLR) (25 September 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 22617 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Kisumu
Judicial Review Application 24 of 2023
RE Aburili, J
September 25, 2023
IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY OTIENO RAGOT & CO. ADVOCATES AND IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPLY FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW BY WAY OF MANDAMUS AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 2, 103, 147 & 148 OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT ACT, 2012 AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 44 & 45 OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACT 2012 AND IN THE MATTER OF GOVERNMENT PROCEEDINGS ACT, CHAPTER 40, LAWS OF KENYA AND IN THEMATTER OF ARTICLES 10, 23 & 41 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA
Between
Otieno, Ragot & Co Advocates
Applicant
and
The County Executive Member for Finance County Government of Kisumu
Respondent
Ruling
1. The applicants filed this matter but thy have never served the Respondents with the same and they did not appear on September 19, 2023 despite the matter being fixed for mention on September 19, 2023 and service upon them by email on June 26, 2023.
2. The applicants appear not interested in this matter as they have allegedly never served the Respondents with the pleadings, according to the Respondents’ counsel. However, the affidavit of service filed in court sworn on May 20, 2023 by James Otieno Okudo shows that the Respondents were served with the pleadings on May 12, 2023 and they acknowledged by stamping on the Chamber Summons dated May 3, 2023.
3. Ordinarily, such applications are heard exparte in chambers. This matter is similar to JR 23 of 2023. The Applicant seeks for leave to apply for Judicial Review orders of Mandamus to compel the Respondents to settle decree in Kisumu HC Misc No 343 of 2015 being Advocate/Client taxed costs.
4. I find no reason to adjourn this application as the application is a procedural step toward recovery of costs against the County Government of Kisumu in accordance with the provisions of the Government Proceedings Act, Cap 40, Laws of Kenya.
5. Accordingly, I grant leave to the Exparte Applicant in terms of prayer No 1 of the Chamber summons dated May 3, 2023 and order that the substantive motion be filed and served within 21 days of today in a separate file.
6. Each party to bear their own costs of the chamber summons.
7. This file is hereby closed.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT KISUMU THIS 25TH*DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023. R. E. ABURILIJUDGE