[2014] KEELRC 295 (KLR)
The Court found that the power to allow amendments to pleadings is discretionary and may be exercised to ensure that all relevant details are before the Court. The Claimant's failure to cite a specific rule was not fatal, as the Court is empowered to grant such orders under its procedural rules. The Respondent's...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEELRC 295 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Captain (Rtd) Victor Wanjau Kanyuira; Respondent: Kenya Kazi Security Services
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 225 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Pleadings
- Outcome
- application granted
- Legal Topics
- Amendment of Pleadings, Discretion of Court, Employment Act Application
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Captain (Rtd) Victor Wanjau Kanyuira
Applicant
Kenya Kazi Security Services
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Pleadings
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Claimant should be granted leave to amend the Statement of Claim.
- 2 Whether the proposed amendments introduce a new cause of action not contemplated by the Employment Act 2007 or relevant regulations.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court found that the power to allow amendments to pleadings is discretionary and may be exercised to ensure that all relevant details are before the Court. The Claimant's failure to cite a specific rule was not fatal, as the Court is empowered to grant such orders under its procedural rules. The Respondent's objections were deemed premature and more appropriately raised in response to the substantive claim rather than at the interlocutory stage. Accordingly, the Court granted the Claimant leave to amend the Statement of Claim, with corresponding leave for the Respondent to amend its response.
Court Disposition
application granted
Orders
- The Claimant is granted 14 days to file and serve an Amended Statement of Claim.
- The Respondent may file and serve an Amended Statement of Response within 14 days of service.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE INDUSTRIAL COURT AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NUMBER 225 OF 2014
BETWEEN
CAPTAIN (RTD) VICTOR WANJAU KANYUIRA………….….….……CLAIMANT
VERSUS
KENYA KAZI SECURITY SERVICES……….………………......…RESPONDENT
RULING
The Claimant filed an Application on 14th May 2014, seeking to amend his Statement of Claim. The Application is supported by the Affidavit of the Claimant Captain (retired) Victor Wanjau Kanyuira, sworn on 14th May 2014.
The Application is opposed, on the basis that the Claimant seeks to introduce a new cause of action; the amendments have no legal basis; and are not contemplated by the Employment Act 2007 and the Regulation of Wages (Protective Security Services) Order 1998.
The Advocates agreed to have the Application considered and determined, on the strength of their respective Client’s factums.
The Court on its own motion, or on being moved by a Party, may call for, or allow the introduction of further details, where a pleading does not adequately set the details, under Rule 14(7) of the Industrial Court (Procedure) Rules 2010.
Rule 14 (6) allows a Party with the leave of the Court, to amend pleadings, provided the Counter-Party is granted corresponding leave.
Although the Claimant did not invoke any specific Rule in his Application, the Court is satisfied the Orders sought are discretionary. They can be made by the Court on its own motion, or an Application made by a Party.
The Respondent’s opposition is based on grounds that should be raised in responding to the full Claim. They are part of a premature Statement of Response.
IT IS ORDERED:
(a) The Claimant is granted 14 days to file and serve an Amended Statement of Claim.
(b) The Respondent may file and serve an Amended Statement of Response within 14 days of service.
(c) Parties to take a hearing date at the Registry once all the Amendments are on board.
Dated and delivered at Nairobi this 16th day of September 2014
James Rika
Judge