[2010] KEHC 2338 (KLR)
The court found that the omission of the Republic as a party in a judicial review notice of motion is a fatal defect that cannot be cured by amendment. The court distinguished between amendments to add parties and the mandatory requirement to include the Republic in judicial review proceedings. The authorities cited...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] KEHC 2338 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Silas Kipkemboi; Respondent: District Co-operative Officer, Nandi Central North District and Commissioner for Co-operative Development
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Eldoret
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Judicial Review 17 & 232 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Judicial Review / Ruling on Application to Amend Notice of Motion
- Outcome
- application struck out with costs to the respondent
- Legal Topics
- Judicial Review Procedure, Amendment of Pleadings, Mandatory Parties, Defective Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Silas Kipkemboi
Applicant
District Co-operative Officer, Nandi Central North District and Commissioner for Co-operative Development
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review / Ruling on Application to Amend Notice of Motion
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether omission of the Republic as a party in a judicial review notice of motion is a fatal defect.
- 2 Whether the applicant should be granted leave to amend the notice of motion to include the Republic.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the omission of the Republic as a party in a judicial review notice of motion is a fatal defect that cannot be cured by amendment. The court distinguished between amendments to add parties and the mandatory requirement to include the Republic in judicial review proceedings. The authorities cited by the applicant were found to relate to amendments for additional parties, not for the omission of the Republic. The court held that the name of the Republic is compulsory in such applications, and failure to include it renders the application defective and fatal. Consequently, the application to amend the notice of motion was declined, and the application was struck out with...
Court Disposition
application struck out with costs to the respondent
Orders
- The application to amend the notice of motion to include the Republic is declined.
- The application is struck out with costs to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
62 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT ELDORET
Judicial Review 17 & 232 of 2009
SILAS KIPKEMBOI ……………………………………...............APPLICANT
=VERSUS=
THE DISTRICT CO-OPEATIVE OFFICER
NANDI CENTRAL NORTH DISTRICT ANDCOMMISSIONER
FOR CO-OPERATIVEDEVELOPMENT.................... RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
I.Introduction
1. Leave was granted on29/4/2009(Ibraim J.) to
the applicantto file Judicial Review Proceedings
to this Court under Order L III Civil Procedure
Rules
2. A Notice of motion dated 19thmay 2009 was filed
but the parties who were named therein did not include the Republic.To this end the Respondentbrought it to the applicant’s attention in their replying affidavitthat the motion was fatally defective.
3. As a result of this the applicant filed the application of21st January 2010seeking leave to amend the notice of motion of19th May 2009to include the Republic . This application was opposed to by the State.
II.Arguments put forward
4. In replying on the case law of
In the mater of Commissioner of Landsand Others and in the Misc. Application 105/2001 Visram J stated that the omission in not havingthe name of the Republic was not fatal.Leave to amend the notice of motion was accordingly granted.
5. The reasons further given was in the case of
Farmers Bus Service and others
-vs-
The Transport LicensingAppeal Tribunal
(1959) E.A. 779
ForbesAg. P. Wendan JA and Templeton J.
The Courtof appeal stated thenotice of motionmay be amended.
III.In Reply
6. The State argued thatthere are authoritiesthat show the notice of motion andthe amendments are fatal and defective, should not be permitted.
In the case law of
James Kega Kargan and Others
=vrs=
Misc. App. No. 1570/2005,Wendoh J.
and in the case law of
Republic .-vr-
Chairman, Electoral Commissioner ofKenya
Exparte Welmond Ringera J; the Courts
held that the omission of the nameRepublic was
fatal and thenotice of motion wasfatal.
IV.Opinion
7. The other authoritiesrelied onby the advocates for the applicant consistently shows amendments of the notice of motion being allowed.Theseamendments though are as concerned additional parties to the application.None refers to the Republic.
8. In this case the name of the Republic had been omitted.There is no way an applicant and a respondent can be identified.
The Case Law of
In the mater of Commissioner of Land and Others Misc. 105/2001 Visram J.
expounded how various Courts struck out application for having been broughtunder the incorrect law or procedure.
9. The said decisionpoints out that other Judges
havepermitted amendments in the case.
In thecase law of
Kentan Kijabe Hills Farmers & Co. Society
–vrs-
The District Commissioner
(Nairobi) H. Misc. App. 280/1996 Aganyanya J.application mustbe brought in the name of the Republic or else it was defective.
10. Ifind that it is a party who is beingbrought to Court being the Republic.The nameof the Republic is compulsory in applications of Judicial Review.I would declineto grantthe applicationas prayed and agreewith the principle that failureto include the Republic, the application is defective 'and fatal.
11. The application is hereby struck out with costs to the respondent.
DATED THIS 25TH DAY OF MAY, 2010 AT ELDORET.
M.A. ANG’AWA,
JUDGE.
(i)G. Adhiambo Advocate for the State from Ministry ofCo-operatives for the
1st and2nd Respondent–Present/Absent
(ii)W. Wanyonyi Advocate instructed by the firm of M/s Walter Wanyonyi and
Co.Advocate for the Applicant – Present/Absent