[2019] KEHC 9478 (KLR)
The court found that the appellant had provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay in filing the appeal, namely, the absence of counsel at the time of judgment delivery and the time required to obtain instructions from the appellant's insurers. The court considered the delay of about one month to be excusable...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 9478 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Timau Flour Limited; Respondent: Elijah Ndungu Kamau
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nanyuki
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 11 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Admission of Appeal Out of Time
- Outcome
- Application allowed; appeal admitted out of time.
- Judges
- DW Mbuteti
- Legal Topics
- Extension of Time, Admission of Appeal Out of Time, Right of Appeal
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Timau Flour Limited
Appellant
Elijah Ndungu Kamau
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application for Admission of Appeal Out of Time
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appellant has demonstrated good and sufficient cause for filing the appeal out of time under section 79G of the Civil Procedure Act.
- 2 Whether the delay of about one month in filing the appeal should be excused.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the appellant had provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay in filing the appeal, namely, the absence of counsel at the time of judgment delivery and the time required to obtain instructions from the appellant's insurers. The court considered the delay of about one month to be excusable in the circumstances, particularly since the right of appeal is fundamental to the administration of justice and should not be denied lightly. The court exercised its discretion under section 79G of the Civil Procedure Act to admit the appeal out of time, finding that good and sufficient cause had been demonstrated.
Court Disposition
Application allowed; appeal admitted out of time.
Orders
- Prayer 3 of the notice of motion dated 2nd November 2018 is allowed; the appeal is admitted out of time.
- Costs of the application shall be in the appeal.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NANYUKI
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 11 OF 2018
TIMAU FLOUR LIMITED..................................................APPELLANT
VERSUS
ELIJAH NDUNGU KAMAU............................................RESPONDENT
(Appeal from Original Decree passed on 03/09/2018 in Nanyuki CM Civil Case No 77 of 2013 – W J Gichimu, PM)
R U L I N G
1. The appeal herein challenges the decree of the lower court passed on 3rd September 2018. The memorandum of appeal was filed on 5th November, 2018, which was about 32 days out of time (seesection 79Gof the Civil Procedure Act, Cap 21).
2. Together with the memorandum of appeal the Appellant filed an application by notice of motion dated 2nd November 2018. Prayer 3 of that application seeks, in effect, an order to regularise the appeal (it having been filed out of time as already seen).
3. The proviso to section 79G aforesaid gives the court the necessary power to admit an appeal out of time...
“...if the appellant satisfies the court that he had good and sufficient cause for not filing the appeal in time”.
4. The application has been opposed by the Respondent. I have read the affidavits sworn in support of and in opposition to the application. I have also considered the submissions of the learned counsels appearing, including the authorities cited.
5. The record of the court reflects the fact that the entire decretal sum was deposited in the lower court by consent of the parties recorded in this appeal. It is also common ground that the costs awarded to the Respondent in the lower court were assessed and have already been paid. Finally, it is common ground that the delay in filing the appeal, as already seen, was about one month.
6. The right of appeal is an important process in the administration of justice that will not be denied lightly, particularly where that right has already been exercised, albeit belatedly, as in this case.
7. The explanation for the delay in filing the appeal as offered by the Appellant, is two-fold. One, that the judgment was delivered in the absence of the Appellant’s counsel, and, secondly, that some time was taken up in seeking and obtaining instructions to appeal, the instructing client being the Appellant’s insurers exercising their derivative right.
8. It is a contested issue whether or not the Appellant had been duly served with notice for delivery of judgment. I consider that issue not worth the court’s time in the circumstances of this case. But I do note that the judgement was delivered on the date originally set by the court in the presence of the parties.
9. In the present case, having considered all due matters placed before the court, I am satisfied that the Appellant had good and sufficient cause for not filing the appeal in time. I will therefore allow prayer 3 of the notice of motion dated 2nd November, 2018 and admit the appeal herein out of time. It is so ordered. Costs of the application shall be in the appeal.
DATED AND SIGNED AT NANYUKI THIS 7TH DAY OF MARCH 2019
H P G WAWERU
JUDGE
DELIVERED AT NANYUKI THIS 7TH DAY OF MARCH 2019