[2010] KEHC 1013 (KLR)
The court found that since the respondent's advocate had previously informed the court that the record of appeal was complete and directions had already been taken, it would be contrary to the overriding objective of the Civil Procedure Act to strike out the appeal for technical defects. The court held that the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] KEHC 1013 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: South Nyanza Sugar Co. Ltd; Respondent: Ezekiel Nyakundi
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 333 of 2005
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
- Outcome
- Preliminary objection dismissed; leave granted to file supplementary record; costs awarded to respondent.
- Legal Topics
- Preliminary Objection, Record of Appeal, Supplementary Record, Decree Compliance
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
South Nyanza Sugar Co. Ltd
Appellant
Ezekiel Nyakundi
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appeal should be struck out due to a decree dated before the judgment, contrary to Order XX Rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
- 2 Whether the absence of evidence of DW1 and DW2 in the record of appeal renders the appeal fatally defective.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that since the respondent's advocate had previously informed the court that the record of appeal was complete and directions had already been taken, it would be contrary to the overriding objective of the Civil Procedure Act to strike out the appeal for technical defects. The court held that the appellant should be granted leave to file a supplementary record of appeal to include a properly dated decree and the missing evidence. The appellant was ordered to pay the costs of the preliminary objection before the appeal could proceed to hearing.
Court Disposition
Preliminary objection dismissed; leave granted to file supplementary record; costs awarded to respondent.
Orders
- Appellant granted leave to file a supplementary record of appeal to include a properly dated decree and the evidence of DW1 and DW2.
- Appellant to pay costs of the preliminary objection before the appeal is set for hearing.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
REPUBLICOFKENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KISII.
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 333 OF 2005
(Being an appeal from the judgment of SRM’S Court at Kilgoris in SRMCC NO. 101 OF 2003- Mr. Chepseba, SRM)
SOUTH NYANZA SUGAR CO. LTD……………………APPELLANT
VERSUS
EZEKIEL NYAKUNDI…………………………………..RESPONDENT
RULING
When this appeal came up for hearing on 25th May 2010, Mr. ogweno for the respondent raised a preliminary objection saying that the decree appealed against is dated13th March, 2009 whereas the judgment was delivered on 2nd November, 2009. To that extent, the decree does not comply with the requirements of order xx rule 6 of the civil procedure Rules. He further submitted that the record of appeal does not contain the evidence of DW1 and DW2 before the trial court. He urged the court to strike out the appeal.
Mr. Yogo for the appellant submitted that when the appeal came up for directions on 18th May,2009 in his absence, Mr. Ogweno told the court that the record of appeal was complete and the appeal could be given a hearing date. He was therefore estopped from lamenting that the record was incomplete or defective. These are issues that ought to have been raised during directions. With regards to the evidence of DW1 and DW2, he referred the court to page 24 of the compiled record of appeal where the trial court stated:
“The evidence of DW1 and DW2 in civil case
56 of 2004 to apply in 101 of 2003. ”
Counsel added that a supplementary record of appeal could be filled to bring on board the evidence of DW1 and DW2 though the same was already before the court but in a different appeal.
In view of the fact that the appeal has already been admitted to hearing and directions taken, the respondent’s advocate having told the court that the record of appeal was complete, it will be contrary to the spirit of the provisions ofSection 1A of the Civil Procedure Act for this court to strike out the appeal. I will grant leave to the appellant’s advocate to file a supplementary record of appeal to include a properly dated copy of the decree and the evidence of DW1 and Dw2 in the lower court proceedings.
The appellant shall bear the costs of the preliminary objection. The same to be paid before the appeal is given a hearing date.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED THIS 28th DAY OF July, 2010.
D. MUSINGA
JUDGE.
28/7/2010
Before d. Musinga, J
Mobisa- cc
Mr. Obure HB for Mr. Otieno Yogo for the appellant
Mr. Ogweno for the respondent.
COURT:- Ruling delivered in open court on 28th July, 2010.
D. MUSINGA
JUDGE.