[2007] KEHC 814 (KLR)
The court found that the objector failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish ownership of the attached goods. The only document produced was a letter from Janmohamed Investment Ltd, which did not constitute adequate proof of ownership as required by the Civil Procedure Rules. The court emphasized that an...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] KEHC 814 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Switchgear & Controls Limited; Defendant: Unispan Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 210 of 2005
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Objector's Chamber Summons Under Order Xxi Rules 56 and 57
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the plaintiff
- Judges
- MM Kasango
- Legal Topics
- Execution of Decrees, Objector Proceedings, Attachment of Property
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Switchgear & Controls Limited
Plaintiff
Unispan Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Objector's Chamber Summons Under Order Xxi Rules 56 and 57
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the objector has established legal or equitable entitlement to the goods attached in execution of the decree.
- 2 Whether the evidence provided by the objector is sufficient to support its claim to the attached goods.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the objector failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish ownership of the attached goods. The only document produced was a letter from Janmohamed Investment Ltd, which did not constitute adequate proof of ownership as required by the Civil Procedure Rules. The court emphasized that an objector must provide clear documentary evidence, such as invoices or receipts, to substantiate its claim. Since the items listed in the letter did not match exactly with those in the auctioneer's proclamation and no further evidence was provided, the objector's application was found to be lacking in merit and was dismissed.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the plaintiff
Orders
- The Chamber Summons dated 19th January 2006 is dismissed.
- Costs awarded to the plaintiff as against the objector.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI (MILIMANI COMMERCIAL COURTS COMMERCIAL AND TAX DIVISION)
CIVIL SUIT 210 OF 2005
SWITCHGEAR & CONTROLS LIMITED. …..…………...PLAINTIFF
VERUS
UNISPAN LIMITED…………..………………………….DEFENDANT
RULING
The present application with a Chamber Summons dated 19th January 2006 is brought under Order XXI Rules 56 and 57 of the Civil Procedure Rules. The same is brought by an Objector who claims that goods that were proclaimed on 16th December 2005 by the Expeditious General Merchants in execution of the judgment in favour of the plaintiff belong to the objector. The application is supported by a short affidavit sworn by the Director of the objecting Company. That affidavit simply states that the objector is the owner of the goods listed in the aforestated proclamation and that those goods were purchased by the objector from a Company known as Janmohamed Investment Ltd. In support of that averment the objector attached what can only be described as a letter dated 14th February 2005 which listed items of properties that are said to have been sold by Janmohamed Investment Ltd to the objecting Company. In opposition to that application the plaintiff’s replying affidavit is sworn by its advocate who state that his employee accompanied the auctioneer for the purpose of pointing out the Judgment Debtor and that the said employee confirmed that the attachment took place at the defendants premises. The advocate concluded that the objector has failed to prove its claim to the attached goods.
I have looked at the proclamation by Expedious General Merchants dated 16th December 2005 it cannot be said that the items contained in that inventory are exactly the same items that are alleged to be owned by the objecting Company. So on that score, the objector’s application in respect of those items must fail. Order XXI Rule 53 provides that an Objector has to be one who claims to be entitled legally or equitable in the property that has been attached in execution of a decree. The objecting Company by merely attaching a letter from another Company seems to confirm that it sold the items of property to the objecting Company does not suffice for that rule. I find the objecting Company’s application to be wanting for failing to attach invoices or receipts relating to the items of property the subject of this attachment. The objecting Company application is so poor I find that the court can rule no otherwise other than dismiss the Chamber Summons dated 19th January 2006 which is hereby dismissed with costs being awarded to the plaintiff as against the Objector. Orders accordingly.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE
Dated and delivered on the 21st day of February 2007.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE