[2017] KEMC 55 (KLR)

[2017] KEMC 55 (KLR)

The court held that the petitioner failed to deposit security for costs within the statutory period and did not seek or justify an extension of time, despite being granted leave to do so. This failure is a jurisdictional defect under Section 78 of the Elections Act and Rule 13 of the Election Petition Rules 2017,...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2017] KEMC 55 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Salim Mweni Athman; Respondent: Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission (I.E.B.C); Respondent: Sudi Masha; Respondent: Mramba Nixon Charo
Court
Magistrate's Court
Court Station
Election Petition in Magistrate Courts
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Election Petition 5 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Election Petition / Ruling on Interlocutory Applications to Strike Out Petition for Non Compliance With Security for Costs and Disclosure Requirements
Outcome
petition struck out for non-compliance with security for costs and disclosure requirements; costs awarded to respondents
Legal Topics
Security for Costs, Pleading Requirements, Affidavit Compliance, Disclosure of Results, Jurisdictional Thresholds
Source Language
en
Election Petitions Civil Procedure Security for Costs Pleading Requirements Affidavit Compliance Disclosure of Results Jurisdictional Thresholds

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Parties

Salim Mweni Athman

Applicant

Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission (I.E.B.C)

Respondent

Sudi Masha

Respondent

Mramba Nixon Charo

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Election Petition / Ruling on Interlocutory Applications to Strike Out Petition for Non Compliance With Security for Costs and Disclosure Requirements

  1. 1 Whether failure to deposit security for costs within the statutory period warrants striking out the petition.
  2. 2 Whether failure to disclose election results and date of declaration in the petition and affidavit renders the petition fatally defective.
  3. 3 Whether the supporting affidavit offends the Oaths & Statutory Declarations Act and should be expunged.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the petitioner failed to deposit security for costs within the statutory period and did not seek or justify an extension of time, despite being granted leave to do so. This failure is a jurisdictional defect under Section 78 of the Elections Act and Rule 13 of the Election Petition Rules 2017, and deprives the court of authority to proceed. Additionally, the petition and supporting affidavit failed to disclose the election results and date of declaration, as required by Rule 8(1) and Rule 12(2), and did not provide any explanation for these omissions. The court aligned with the strict school of thought, holding that such non-compliance with mandatory statutory...

Court Disposition

petition struck out for non-compliance with security for costs and disclosure requirements; costs awarded to respondents

Orders

  • The petition is hereby struck out.
  • The respondents are awarded the costs of the petition.