[2023] KEHC 1338 (KLR)
The court found that the application to reinstate the appeal was filed promptly, only two days after the dismissal, indicating no undue delay. Although the appellants' counsel was aware of the hearing date, the court emphasized that denying a party a hearing should be a last resort. The court cited established...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 1338 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Mike Ochieng Owuoti; Appellant: Peter Mwathi; Appellant: James Ngigi Muthami; Appellant: Samuel Kanyua Njun’ge; Appellant: Eric Kirimi; Respondent: Hassan Kalla Mohamed; Respondent: Arid Lands Construction Co. Ltd
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 151 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Appeal
- Outcome
- Application allowed; appeal reinstated for hearing.
- Judges
- TW Cherere
- Legal Topics
- Reinstatement of Appeal, Dismissal for Want of Prosecution, Exercise of Discretion, Right to Be Heard
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mike Ochieng Owuoti
Appellant
Peter Mwathi
Appellant
James Ngigi Muthami
Appellant
Samuel Kanyua Njun’ge
Appellant
Eric Kirimi
Appellant
Hassan Kalla Mohamed
Respondent
Arid Lands Construction Co. Ltd
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should set aside the order dismissing the appeal for want of prosecution and reinstate the appeal for hearing.
- 2 Whether the applicants have provided sufficient grounds for the exercise of the court's discretion in their favour.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the application to reinstate the appeal was filed promptly, only two days after the dismissal, indicating no undue delay. Although the appellants' counsel was aware of the hearing date, the court emphasized that denying a party a hearing should be a last resort. The court cited established principles that mistakes by counsel should not necessarily bar a party from being heard, especially where the error is not deliberate. In the interest of justice, and to ensure that the matter is determined on its merits, the court exercised its discretion to set aside the dismissal order and reinstate the appeal for hearing. The court further directed that the appeal be disposed of...
Court Disposition
Application allowed; appeal reinstated for hearing.
Orders
- The order made on January 24, 2023 dismissing the appellants’ appeal is set aside.
- The appeal is reinstated for hearing.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
34 paragraphs
Owuoti & 4 others v Mohamed & another (Civil Appeal 151 of 2021) [2023] KEHC 1338 (KLR) (23 February 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 1338 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Meru
Civil Appeal 151 of 2021
TW Cherere, J
February 23, 2023
Between
Mike Ochieng Owuoti
1st Appellant
Peter Mwathi
2nd Appellant
James Ngigi Muthami
3rd Appellant
Samuel Kanyua Njun’ge
4th Appellant
Eric Kirimi
5th Appellant
and
Hassan Kalla Mohamed
1st Respondent
Arid Lands Construction Co. Ltd
2nd Respondent
Ruling
1. By notice of motion application dated January 25, 2023, the applicant has moved the court seeking for the following orders:i.Spent.ii.That this honourable court be pleased to set aside its orders made on January 24, 2023 dismissing the appellants appeal and reinstate the same for hearing.iii.That costs of this application be in the cause.
2. The said application is premised on the following grounds that appellants appeal was dismissed on the January 24, 2023 for want of prosecution whereas it had been listed for hearing on January 26, 2023, that appellants have a strong and meritorious case against the respondents and the respondents shall suffer no prejudice if the appeal is reinstated for hearing and is supported by an affidavit sworn by Mike Ochieng Owuoti (1st appellant) on the January 25, 2023 in which eh reiterates the grounds on the face of eth application.
3. The application is opposed vide a replying affidavit dated February 15, 2023 sworn by Hassan Kalla Mohamed (1st respondent) who states that the allegations by the 1st appellant/applicant that the non-attendance by his advocate was an inadvertent has no truth whatsoever because he does not dispute that his advocate or himself were not aware of the hearing date of this appeal on January 23, 2023.
Analysis and Determination 4. Indeed, both the dismissal of this appeal for want of prosecution and its reinstatement is an act of the exercise of this court’s discretionary power. (See Mbogo & Anor v Shah (1968) EA 93).
5. This application was filed on January 25, 2023 just 2 days later after the dismissal order was thus filed without delay. Whereas the applicant’s counsel has not denied that he was aware that the appeal was listed for hearing on January 23, 2023, it should be the court’s last resort to deny a party a chance to be heard on merit.
6. In any case, the door of justice is not closed because a mistake has been made by a person of experience who ought to have known better as counsel in this case ought to have known (See Belinda Murai & 9 others v Amos Wainaina [1979]eKLR).
7. Consequently, I find that the interest of justice demands is in favour of reinstating the appeal for hearing. The notice of motion application dated January 25, 2023, is allowed and the order made on January 24, 2023 dismissing the appellants’ appeal is set aside and the appeal is hereby reinstated for hearing.
8. The appeal shall be disposed off by way of written submissions with each party 14 days starting with the appellants
9. Mention on July 5, 2023 to confirm compliance with the abovementioned orders and for taking a judgment date. I make no order for costs
DATED AT MERU THIS 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY 2023T.W. CHEREREJUDGEAppearancesCourt Assistant - Morris KinotiFor Appellants - Mr. Muriira for Kiogora Mugambi & Co. AdvocatesFor Respondents - Mr. Nyamu for Nyamu Ngaga & Co. Advocates