[2016] KEHC 524 (KLR)
The court found that the defendant, having been properly served with the mention notice and having previously agreed to file written submissions within 21 days, failed to comply with the court's directions for over 22 months. This failure to act derailed the hearing and determination of the application, as the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 524 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Rukia Hussein Ali; Applicant: Farah Huka Tadichi; Respondent: Barni Dawaf
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 15 of 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Dismiss Defendant's Application for Want of Prosecution
- Outcome
- Defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 dismissed for want of prosecution and non-compliance with court directions.
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Dismissal for Want of Prosecution, Interlocutory Judgment, Non Compliance With Court Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Rukia Hussein Ali
Applicant
Farah Huka Tadichi
Applicant
Barni Dawaf
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Dismiss Defendant's Application for Want of Prosecution
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 should be dismissed for want of prosecution and non-compliance with court directions.
- 2 Whether the defendant was properly served and failed to comply with the court's order to file written submissions within the stipulated time.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the defendant, having been properly served with the mention notice and having previously agreed to file written submissions within 21 days, failed to comply with the court's directions for over 22 months. This failure to act derailed the hearing and determination of the application, as the plaintiffs could not respond without the defendant's submissions. The court held that the defendant's conduct amounted to a lack of interest in prosecuting the application and constituted sufficient grounds for dismissal for want of prosecution and non-compliance with court orders. Accordingly, the defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 was dismissed, with costs in the cause.
Court Disposition
Defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 dismissed for want of prosecution and non-compliance with court directions.
Orders
- The defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 is dismissed.
- Costs shall be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MERU
CIVIL SUIT NO 15 OF 2011
RUKIA HUSSEIN ALI......................................................1ST PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
FARAH HUKA TADICHI.................................................2ND PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
(Suing as the Legal representatives of the Estate of HUKA TADICAH DUBA)
VERSUS
BARNI DAWAF...............................................................DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
1. This application is dated 24th October, 2016 and seeks orders:-
(1) THATthe defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 be dismissed for want of prosecution and for non compliance with the Court's direction.
(2) THATthe costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of the plaintiffs RUKIA HUSSEIN ALI and FARAH HUKA TADICHA.
3. The application has the following grounds:-
(a) THATthe defendant was served with summons to appear and other court process but refused to appear.
(b) THATthe court entered Interlocutory Judgment.
(c) THATthe Defendant made an application for setting aside the Interlocutory Judgment and for an injunction against the plaintiffs. The application is dated 4th December, 2013.
(d) THATthe parties appeared in court on 18th December, 2013 and agreed that the application be disposed off through written sub-missions.
(e) THATthe defendant was given 21 days but has refused to put in written sub-missions.
(f) THATthe defendant has also failed to prosecute its application for now 22 months which is more than one year.
(g) THATthe defendant is delaying the hearing of the suit with his application.
(h) THATthe application should be dismissed to enable the Plaintiff proceed.
4. The matter came up in Court on 28/11/2016. Miss Mbaikiata, the plaintiffs' Advocate, told the Court that the defendant's advocates had been properly served with today's date but were not in Court. She told the Court that the plaintiffs had filed an affidavit of service showing that the firm of Khaminwa and Khaminwa had received the apposite Mention Notice.
5. Miss Mbaikiata urged the Court to dismiss the defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013 saying that their non-appearance in Court was an indication that the defendant was not interested in prosecuting the said application.
6. I do confirm that the defendant had been properly served with the Notice of Mention concerning today's date for directions.
7. I do note that the parties were in Court on 18/12/2016 when they agreed to canvass the application dated 4th December, 2013 by way of Written Submissions. The Defendant was granted 21 days to do so but failed to put in the required Written Submissions.
8. I do note that failure by the Defendant, as the applicant , to file Written Submissions within the time frame given by this Court, has derailed the hearing and determination of this application as the Respondents, the Plaintiffs, could not file their Submissions without knowing what issues they were supposed to respond to.
9. I find that this application is meritorious.
10. In the circumstances, I dismiss the defendant's application dated 4th December, 2013.
11. Costs shall be in the cause.
12. It is so ordered.
DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT AT MERU THIS 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2016.
CA: Daniel
M/S Mbaikiata for the Plaintiffs
P.M. NJOROGE
JUDGE