[2016] KEHC 3167 (KLR)
The court found that while the respondent did file a notice of appeal and applied for certified copies of proceedings within the prescribed period, there was a delay in obtaining the proceedings. However, the court determined that it would be unfair to attribute the entire delay to the respondent, as the applicant...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 3167 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Terry Kanyua Marangu; Defendant: Wells Fargo Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 18 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Stay of Execution
- Outcome
- Application spent; directions issued for expeditious provision of proceedings; each party to bear own costs.
- Judges
- F Gikonyo
- Legal Topics
- Stay of Execution, Appeal Process, Delay in Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Terry Kanyua Marangu
Plaintiff
Wells Fargo Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Stay of Execution
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the stay of execution should be set aside due to the respondent's alleged failure to prosecute the appeal diligently.
- 2 Whether the delay in obtaining certified proceedings is attributable to the respondent or is a systemic issue.
- 3 How to balance the applicant's right to enjoy the fruits of judgment with the respondent's right of appeal.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that while the respondent did file a notice of appeal and applied for certified copies of proceedings within the prescribed period, there was a delay in obtaining the proceedings. However, the court determined that it would be unfair to attribute the entire delay to the respondent, as the applicant could also have intervened earlier to expedite the process. The court emphasized the need to balance the rights of both parties: the respondent's right of appeal and the applicant's right to realize the fruits of judgment. To resolve the impasse, the court directed the Deputy Registrar to ensure the proceedings are typed and provided within 30 days, and set a mention date to...
Court Disposition
Application spent; directions issued for expeditious provision of proceedings; each party to bear own costs.
Orders
- Deputy Registrar to ensure proceedings are typed and provided within 30 days from the date of the ruling.
- Case to be mentioned before the judge to confirm compliance with the directions.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MERU
CIVIL SUIT NO. 18 OF 2013
TERRY KANYUA MARANGU …………………………PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
-VERSUS-
WELLS FARGO LIMITED. …...……………… DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
RULING
Setting aside orders
[1] Before me is anapplication dated 18th September, 2015 which is asking this court to set aside the order of stayof execution issued on 10th December, 2014. It also seeks for costs of the application. The application is expressed to be made under Order 22 rule 22 and Order 51 rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules. It is grounded on the affidavit of Gilbert C. Mutembei, Advocate and another by Lucy Kaaria Advocate. It is also grounded on othergrounds set out in the application. The major grounds for applying are; (a) that the respondent has not filed any appeal withinthe statutory period prescribed in law; and (2) the failure to file appeal defeats thepurposes for which the stay was granted. The two affidavits by counsel for the Applicant have amplified these twogroundsbut the one by Lucy Kaaria whilst acknowledging the filing of appeal and request for proceedings, she clearly stated that the Respondents have not been following up on the proceedings and she accused them of dilatory conduct thereto. The averred that the plaintiff has a judgment of Kshs. 8,456. 500which she cannot execute even an urgent surgeryshe now requires. On the basis of that ground the applicant prays for the stay granted to be set aside.
[2] The respondent opposed the application and filed a replying affidavit and deposedinteralia; that the application is a non-starter for two reasons; (1) they have already filed aNotice of appeal as prescribed; (2) also applied for certified copies of proceedings and judgment; the proceedings are yet to be supplied by the court; and they implored thiscourt to supply them with proceedings sothat theycan prepare the record of appeal. On that basis, they sought for the application to be dismissed.
DETERMINATION
[3] First things first. A notice of Appeal was filed in court on 23rd October 2014. Accordingly, an appeal was duly filed. Again, the Respondents applied for certified copies of typed proceedings on 23rd October 2014. The two issues are not in dispute. But despite that finding, it is quite unfortunate that this matter has taken such a long time to procure typed and certified copies of proceedings and judgment for purposes of appeal, yet the Applicant is in dire need of surgery and which surgery is as a result of the injuries the sustainedin an accident that is the subject of these proceedings. Isay this fully aware that both parties have rights: the Respondents have right of appeal which included that his appeal should not be rendered otiose; and the Applicant has right to full realization and enjoyment of the fruits of her judgment. The Applicant has averred through her counsel that the Respondents did not follow for provision of certifiedproceedings since 23rd October, 2014 when they applied for them. That is a substantial argument in law. The Respondent failure to follow up on the proceedings is one of the sources of the delay I am seeing. But, in the circumstances of this case, it will be unfair to attribute the delay herein entirely to the Respondents. An early intervention by the Applicant may have also awakened the Respondent or have these proceedings moved forward. Now, I should think that I should give an order which balances the rights of these parties in an almost symmetrical bound. Accordingly, as courts are now more efficient, I direct the Deputy Registrar to ensure the proceedings herein have been typed and provided as by the law required not later than 30 days from today. I will alsoassign this case a mentiondate before me to ensure that these my directionshavebeen executed for the sake of justice. With those directions, the application dated 18th September, 2015 is spent; I order each party to bear own costs thereto. It is so ordered.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court at Meru this 19th day of September, 2016.
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F. GIKONYO
JUDGE
In the presence of :
M/s. Kaaria advocate for the plaintiff
M/s. Njenga advocate for Kibicho advocate for the defendant
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F. GIKONYO
JUDGE