[2018] KEHC 4259 (KLR)

[2018] KEHC 4259 (KLR)

The court found that the magistrate acted outside the scope of jurisdiction by issuing warrants of arrest against the Governor of Kajiado County for contempt of court without adherence to the mandatory procedures for execution against government entities. The evidence did not show that the ex parte applicants were...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2018] KEHC 4259 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Hon. Joseph Ole Lenku; Applicant: County Government of Kajiado; Respondent: Principal Magistrate's Court at Mavoko; Interested Party: Francis Ngige Waweru
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Kajiado
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Miscellaneous Civil Application 6 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Judicial Review Application
Outcome
Application allowed. Orders of certiorari and prohibition granted. No order as to costs.
Judges
DB Nyakundi
Legal Topics
Judicial Review, Natural Justice, Contempt of Court, Execution Against Government, Fair Administrative Action, Right to Be Heard
Source Language
en
Administrative Law Civil Procedure Constitutional Law Judicial Review Natural Justice Contempt of Court Execution Against Government Fair Administrative Action +1 more

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Hon. Joseph Ole Lenku

Applicant

County Government of Kajiado

Applicant

Principal Magistrate's Court at Mavoko

Respondent

Francis Ngige Waweru

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Judicial Review Application

  1. 1 Whether the magistrate had jurisdiction and followed due process in issuing warrants of arrest against the Governor of Kajiado County for contempt of court.
  2. 2 Whether the ex parte applicants were denied the right to a fair hearing and natural justice before the issuance of the warrants.
  3. 3 Whether the proper procedure for execution of decrees against a county government was followed.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the magistrate acted outside the scope of jurisdiction by issuing warrants of arrest against the Governor of Kajiado County for contempt of court without adherence to the mandatory procedures for execution against government entities. The evidence did not show that the ex parte applicants were served with the decree or given an opportunity to be heard, violating their constitutional rights to fair hearing and natural justice. The proper legal process required the interested party to obtain a certificate of order against the government and, if necessary, seek a writ of mandamus, not contempt proceedings. The magistrate's orders were therefore tainted by procedural...

Court Disposition

Application allowed. Orders of certiorari and prohibition granted. No order as to costs.

Orders

  • An Order of Certiorari quashing the decision of Honourable L Kassam (SPM) contained in the Warrant of arrest in execution to arrest the Governor of OlKejuado County Government dated 12th March 2018.
  • An Order of Prohibition prohibiting further enforcement of the warrants of arrest dated 12th March 2018 and/or incarceration of the ex-parte applicant in civil jail arising out of the same facts and proceedings in Mavoko Civil Suit No. 386 of 2014.