[2018] KEHC 9745 (KLR)

[2018] KEHC 9745 (KLR)

The court held that, although statutory provisions such as Section 9(3) of the Law Reform Act and Order 53 of the Civil Procedure Rules impose strict timelines for filing judicial review applications, these provisions must be interpreted in conformity with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Constitution guarantees...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2018] KEHC 9745 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Stanley Mombo Amuti; Respondent: Kenya Revenue Authority
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Judicial Review Application 102 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review Application / Ruling on Application for Extension of Time to File Substantive Motion
Outcome
application for extension of time allowed; substantive motion admitted out of time
Judges
JM Mativo
Legal Topics
Judicial Review Timelines, Extension of Time, Fair Administrative Action, Access to Justice, Constitutional Supremacy
Source Language
en
Civil Procedure Tax Law Administrative Law Judicial Review Timelines Extension of Time Fair Administrative Action Access to Justice Constitutional Supremacy

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Stanley Mombo Amuti

Applicant

Kenya Revenue Authority

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Judicial Review Application / Ruling on Application for Extension of Time to File Substantive Motion

  1. 1 Whether the court has jurisdiction to extend time for filing a substantive judicial review motion after expiry of the period granted by the court.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant demonstrated sufficient cause for the delay in filing the substantive motion.
  3. 3 Whether strict statutory timelines for judicial review applications must yield to constitutional principles of access to justice and fair administrative action.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that, although statutory provisions such as Section 9(3) of the Law Reform Act and Order 53 of the Civil Procedure Rules impose strict timelines for filing judicial review applications, these provisions must be interpreted in conformity with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Constitution guarantees the right to fair administrative action and access to justice, and all law must be construed to promote these rights. The court found that the applicant had provided a candid and sufficient explanation for the delay—namely, financial difficulties in raising court fees—and that no negligence, inaction, or lack of bona fides was imputed. The delay was not inordinate, and no...

Court Disposition

application for extension of time allowed; substantive motion admitted out of time

Orders

  • The application dated 26th June 2018 is allowed.
  • The application dated 20th June 2018 and filed on the same date is admitted out of time and deemed duly and properly filed.