[2025] KEHC 3488 (KLR)
The court held that, under section 51(2) of the Advocates Act, once a bill of costs has been taxed and a certificate of taxation issued by the taxing officer, and where there is no dispute as to retainer and the certificate has not been set aside or altered, the court may enter judgment for the sum certified to be...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEHC 3488 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates; Respondent: Africa Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Miscellaneous Application 81 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Judgment on Taxed Costs
- Outcome
- application allowed; judgment entered for applicant for taxed costs with interest
- Judges
- DKN Magare
- Legal Topics
- Taxation of Costs, Certificate of Taxation, Entry of Judgment, Advocates Fees
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates
Applicant
Africa Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Judgment on Taxed Costs
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether judgment can be entered for the applicant on the basis of a taxed and certified bill of costs.
- 2 Whether the absence of a certificate of taxation precludes entry of judgment under section 51(2) of the Advocates Act.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that, under section 51(2) of the Advocates Act, once a bill of costs has been taxed and a certificate of taxation issued by the taxing officer, and where there is no dispute as to retainer and the certificate has not been set aside or altered, the court may enter judgment for the sum certified to be due. The applicant had served the bill of costs and other processes, and there was no evidence of any dispute as to retainer or any challenge to the certificate of taxation by the respondent. The respondent did not participate in the proceedings. Accordingly, the court exercised its discretion to enter judgment for the applicant for the taxed sum, with interest from 30 days...
Court Disposition
application allowed; judgment entered for applicant for taxed costs with interest
Orders
- Judgment is entered for the applicant against the respondent for Kshs. 147,492.
- Interest on the sum is payable from 30/7/2021, being 30 days from the date of taxation.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates v Africa Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd (Civil Miscellaneous Application 81 of 2019) [2025] KEHC 3488 (KLR) (19 March 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 3488 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Nyeri
Civil Miscellaneous Application 81 of 2019
DKN Magare, J
March 19, 2025
Between
Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates
Applicant
and
Africa Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd
Respondent
Ruling
1. This is a ruling over a Miscellaneous Application dated 28th September, 2021. The Applicant sought relief that judgment be entered for the Applicant against the Respondent in the sum of Kshs. 147,492. 72/= being the sum taxed and certified by the Deputy Registrar on 13th July, 2021 as due to the Applicant. The court however notes that the application does not have a Certificate of Taxation.
2. The application is stated to be brought under Section 55(2) of the Advocates Act but ought to have been brought under Section 51 (2) of the Advocates Act. The said Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act provides thus:The certificate of the taxing officer by whom any bill has been taxed shall, unless it is set aside or altered by the Court, be final as to the amount of the costs covered thereby, and the Court may make such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit, including, in a case where the retainer is not disputed, an order that judgment be entered for the sum certified to be due with costs.
3. As a fact, after filing of the Notice of Motion dated 28th September, 2021, there does not appear to be active participation of the Respondent. In the case of Musyoka & Wambua Advocates v RustamHira Advocate (2006) eKLR it was held: -Section 51 of the Act makes general provisions as to taxation, as the marginal note indicates. One of those provisions is that the court has discretion to enter judgment on a Certificate of Taxation which has not been set aside or altered, where there is no dispute as to retainer. This in my view is a mode of recovery of taxed costs provided by law, in addition to filing of suit...
4. The Applicant has done her part, serving the bill of costs, and other processes. The application is allowed.
Determination 5. I make the following orders: -a.Judgment be and is hereby entered for the Applicant against the Respondent for Kshs. 147,492/=.b.Interest thereon is from 30/7/2021, being 30 days from the date of taxation.c.File is closed.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT NYERI ON THIS 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. RULING DELIVERED THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS ONLINE PLATFORM.KIZITO MAGAREJUDGEIn the presence of: -Ms. Mbaabu for the ApplicantNo appearance for the RespondentCourt Assistant – Michael