[2023] KEHC 26449 (KLR)

Were & 4 others v County Assembly of Trans Nzoia & 8 others (Constitutional Petition E011 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 26449 (KLR) (14 December 2023) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 26449 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Kitale

Constitutional Petition E011 of 2023

AC Mrima, J

December 14, 2023

Between

Kefa Were & 4 others

Petitioner

and

County Assembly of Trans Nzoia & 8 others

Respondent

Ruling

1. This ruling is in respect of a Notice of Preliminary Objection dated 14th August, 2023. It was taken out by the first 6 Respondents.

2. Whereas the objection is supported by the 7th and 9th the Respondents, it is vehemently opposed by the Petitioners.

3. The objection was heard by way of written submissions. All parties were represented by Counsel.

4. The objection was tailored as follows: -1. That the matter does not fall within the purview of Article 165(3) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 as it relates to the process of nomination and appointment of members of the County Assembly Public Service Board and therefore this Honourable court lacks jurisdiction to hear the determine this application and petition.2. That this matter falls within the purview of Article 162(2) of the Constitution as read together with Section 12 of the Employment Act 2007 which gives the Employment and Labour Relations Court the jurisdiction to determine the application and petition herein and issue or decline the orders sought as this is a dispute relating to the nomination and subsequent appointment of the 8th and the 9th Respondents as members of the 2nd Respondent.3. That the petition and the motion do not raise any justiciable issues and they are therefore frivolous, vexatious and raise no valid grounds for adjudication by this honourable court.4. That the petition and motion have been filed for an improper purpose, which is not sanctioned by law.

5. The objection impugned the jurisdiction of this Court on the basis of provisions of Article 165(3) of the Constitution as read with Article 162(2)(a) of the Constitution alongside Section 12 of the Employment Act., 2007.

6. In urging that this Court lacks jurisdiction over the Petition, Counsel averred that the dispute between the Petitioners and the Respondents fell within Section 12(2) of the Industrial Court Act, 2011 and in that case the High Court is not properly seized of the matter.

7. Counsel further referred to several decisions captured in the written submissions.

8. In the end, the Court was urged to down its tools by striking out the Petition and not to transfer it.

9. The Petitioners opposed the objection. They filed Grounds of Opposition dated 21st August, 2023 and even dated written submissions.

10. They argued that the dispute in the instant proceedings was not a labour dispute, but a pure constitutional issue which ought to be determined by the High Court. They also argued in the event the objection was sustained, then the matter be, instead, transferred instead of being struck out.

11. To that end, Counsel referred to some decisions in an attempt to persuade the Court that indeed it was vested with jurisdiction.

12. The Court was urged to dismiss the objections and proceed on with the matter further.

Analysis: 13. From the foregoing background and in consideration of the parties’ submissions and the decisions referred to, this Court hereby discerns the following two issues for determination: -i.Whether the Preliminary Objection is sustainable in law.ii.In the event the answer to (i) above is in the affirmative, whether it is the High Court or the Employment and Labour Relations Court which has the jurisdiction over the instant proceedings;

14. The issues will be dealt with as under.

a. Whether the Preliminary Objection is sustainable in law: 15. The validity of a preliminary objection is considered on the basis that it conforms with the long-standing legal principle that it is raised on a platform of agreed set of facts, it raises pure points of law and is capable of wholly determining the matter.

16. To that end, the locus classicus decision in Mukisa Biscuit Manufacturers Ltd v Westend Distributors Ltd (1969) EA 696. At page 700, comes to the fore. In that case, the Court defined a preliminary objection and discussed its operation in the following eloquent manner: -...so far as I am aware, a preliminary objection consists of a pure point of law which has been pleaded, or which arises by clear implication out of pleadings, and which if argued as a preliminary objection may dispose of the suit. Examples are an objection to the jurisdiction of the court, or a plea of limitation, or a submission that the parties are bound by the contract giving rise to the suit, to refer the dispute to arbitration....A preliminary objection is in the nature of what used to be a demurrer. It raises a pure point of law which is argued on the assumption that all the facts pleaded by the other side are correct. It cannot be raised if any fact has to be ascertained or if what is sought is the exercise of judicial discretion. The improper raising of preliminary objections does nothing but unnecessarily increase costs and, on occasion, confuse the issues, and this improper practice should stop.

17. The Supreme Court weighed in on the issue in Aviation & Allied Workers Union Kenya v Kenya Airways Ltd & 3 Others [2015] eKLR and stated thus: -…. Thus a preliminary objection may only be raised on a ‘pure question of law’. To discern such a point of law, the Court has to be satisfied that there is no proper contest as to the facts.

18. Ojwang J, as he then was, emphasized the finding in Mukisa Biscuit v West End Distributors case (supra) in Civil Suit No 85 of 1992, Oraro v Mbaja [2005] 1 KLR 141 when he observed as follows: -….. I think the principle is abundantly clear. A “preliminary objection”, correctly understood, is now well identified as, and declared to be a point of law which must not be blurred with factual details liable to be contested and in any event, to be proved through the processes of evidence. Any assertion which claims to be a preliminary objection, and yet it bears factual aspects calling for proof, or seeks to adduce evidence for its authentication, is not, as a matter of legal principle, a true preliminary objection which the Court should allow to proceed….

19. In John Musakali v Speaker County of Bungoma & 4 others (2015) eKLR the validity of a preliminary objection was considered in the following manner: -…. The position in law is that a Preliminary Objection should arise from the pleadings and on the basis that facts are agreed by both sides. Once raised the Preliminary Objection should have the potential to disposing of the suit at that point without the need to go for trial. If, however, facts are disputed and remain to be ascertained, that would not be a suitable Preliminary Objection on a point of law….

20. Finally, in Omondi v National Bank of Kenya Ltd& others {2001} KLR 579; [2001] 1 EA 177, guidance was given on what Courts ought to consider in determining the validity of preliminary objections. It was observed: -….. In determining (Preliminary Objections) the Court is perfectly at liberty to look at the pleadings and other relevant matter in its records and it is not necessary to file affidavit evidence on those matters…What is forbidden is for counsel to take, and the Court to purport to determine, a point of preliminary objection on contested facts or in the exercise of judicial discretion and therefore the contention that the suit is an abuse of the process of the Court for the reason that the defendant’s costs in an earlier suit have not been paid is not a true point of preliminary objection because to stay or not to stay a suit for such reason is not done ex debito justitiae (as of right) but as a matter of judicial discretion….

21. On whether the issue of jurisdiction is a pure point of law, the Supreme Court in Petition No. 7 of 2013 Mary Wambui Munene v. Peter Gichuki Kingara and Six Others, [2014] eKLR, stated that ‘jurisdiction is a pure question of law’ and should be resolved on priority basis.

22. Returning to the objection, and as held by the Supreme Court, the issue of jurisdiction of a Court or Tribunal is a pure question of law. Further, the objection is capable of disposing of the Petition if sustained. Therefore, the objection raised proper question and is capable of being dealt with under a preliminary objection.

23. The first issue is, hence, answered in the affirmative.

(b) Whether it is the High Court or the Employment and Labour Relations Court which has the jurisdiction over the instant proceedings: 24. This Court must admit that the issue of the jurisdiction of the High Court and Courts of equal status, on some aspects, has been unsettled for a while. However, the Court of Appeal has been dealing with the matters and hopefully all such thorny areas shall sooner be resolved by the Supreme Court.

25. Speaking on the jurisdictional tug-of-war between the High Court and the Employment and Labour Relations Court, the Court of Appeal in Nakuru Civil Appeal No. 119 of 2017 Public Service Commission & 2 others v Eric Cheruiyot & 16 Others consolidated with Civil Appeal No. 139 of 2017 County Government of Embu & Another v Eric Cheruiyot & 15 others (2022) KECA 15 (KLR) in a decision rendered on 8th February, 2022 had the following to say on the aspect of jurisdiction: -36. Jurisdiction is everything, it is what gives a court or a tribunal the power, authority and legitimacy to entertain a matter before it. John Beecroft Saunders in “Words and Phrases Legally Defined”, Volume 3 at Page 113 defines court jurisdiction as follows:By jurisdiction is meant the authority which a court has to decide matters that are litigated before it or to take cognizance of the matters presented in a formal way for its decision. The limits of this authority are imposed by the statute, charter, or commission under which the court is constituted, and may be extended or restricted by the like means. If no restriction or limit is imposed the jurisdiction is said to be unlimited. A limitation may be either as to kind and nature of the actions and matters of which the particular court has cognizance, or as to the area over which the jurisdiction shall extend, or it may partake of both these characteristics. If the jurisdiction of an inferior court or tribunal (including an arbitrator) depends on the existence of a particular state of facts, the court or tribunal must inquire into the existence of the facts in order to decide whether it has jurisdiction; but, except where the court or tribunal has been given power to determine conclusively whether the facts exist. Where a court takes it upon itself to exercise a jurisdiction which it does not possess, its decision amounts to nothing. Jurisdiction must be acquired before judgment is given.37. The locus classicus on jurisdiction is the celebrated case of Owners of the Motor Vessel “Lillian S’ v. Caltex Oil (Kenya) Ltd [1989] KLR 1. Nyarangi, JA relying, inter alia, on the above cited treatise by John Beecroft Saunders held as follows:…Jurisdiction is everything. Without it, a court has no power to make one more step. Where a court has no jurisdiction, there would be no basis for a continuation of proceedings pending other evidence. A court of law downs tools in respect of the matter before it the moment it holds the opinion that it is without jurisdiction.38. A decision made by a court of law without proper jurisdiction amounts to a nullity ab initio, and such a decision is amenable to setting aside ex debito justitiae.39. The Supreme Court in In the Matter of Interim Independent Electoral Commission [2011] eKLR, Constitutional Application No. 2 of 2011 held that jurisdiction of courts in Kenya is regulated by the Constitution, statute, and principles laid out in judicial precedent. The Supreme Court at paragraph 30 of its decision held in part as follows:…a Court may not arrogate to itself jurisdiction through the craft of interpretation, or by way of endeavours to discern or interpret the intentions of Parliament, where the wording of Legislation is clear and there is no ambiguity.40. In Samuel Kamau Macharia and Another v Kenya Commercial Bank Limited & 2 others [2012] eKLR, Application No. 2 of 2011, the Supreme Court reiterated its holding on a court’s jurisdiction. In the matter of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (supra) at paragraph 68 of its ruling, the Supreme Court held as follows:(68).A Court’s jurisdiction flows from either the Constitution or legislation or both. Thus, a Court of law can only exercise jurisdiction as conferred by the Constitution or other written law. It cannot arrogate itself jurisdiction exceeding that which is conferred upon it by law.

26. The Court of Appeal went further and dealt with the issue of jurisdiction which had been raised impugning the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

27. The appellate Court laid the constitutional and legal foundation of the Employment and Labour Relations Court as follows: -41. Article 162 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Employment and Labour Relations Court and its jurisdiction thereof. It reads as follows:162. (1)The Superior Courts are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the courts mentioned in clause (2).(2)Parliament shall establish courts with the status of the High Court to hear and determine dispute relating to-a.employment and labour relations; andb.the environment and the use and occupation of, and title to land.(3)Parliament shall determine the jurisdiction and functions of the courts contemplated in clause (2).(4)….42. It is pursuant to the provisions of Article 162(2) of the Constitution that Parliament enacted the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act, 2011. 43. The jurisdiction of the Employment and Labour Relations Court is provided for under section 12 of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act, 2011. The provisions of section 12(1) of this Act provides as follows:“12. (1)The Court shall have exclusive original and appellate jurisdiction to hear and determine all disputes referred to in accordance with Article 162(2) of the Constitution and the provisions of this Act or any other written law which extend jurisdiction to the Court relating to employment and labour relations including-a.disputes relating to or arising out of employment between and employer and an employee;b.disputes between an employer and a trade union;c.disputes between employers’ organization and a trade union’s organisation;d.disputes between trade unions;e.disputes between employer organisations;f.disputes between an employer’s organization and trade union;g.disputes between a trade union and a member thereof;h.disputes between and employer’s organization or a federation and a member thereof;i.disputes concerning the registration and election of trade union officials; andj.disputes relating to the registration and enforcement of collective agreements.” [Emphasis supplied]

28. In interpreting Section 12 of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act, 2011, my Lordship and Ladyships stated as follows: -44. Our interpretation of the provisions of section 12 of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act is that the Employment and Labour Relations Court has jurisdiction to entertain any dispute or any contemplated dispute under section 12(1) but the dispute between the parties must be related to their employment and/or touching on labour relations. This is therefore to mean that the jurisdiction of the Employment and Labour Relations Court is not limited to the determination of disputes arising out of a contract of employment between an employee and an employer, the Court can also determine any constitutional violations of the rights of any party arising from an employee-employer relationship. However, for the court to entertain a petition premised on the breach of a party’s fundamental rights under the Constitution, the alleged constitutional breach must be ancillary and incidental to the matters contemplated under section 12 of the Act. Our view is fortified by the preamble to the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act, 2011 which provides that it is “An Act of Parliament to establish the Employment and Labour Relations Court to hear and determine disputes relating to employment and labour relations and for connected purposes.

29. Applying Section 12 of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act to the matters at hand, the Court of Appeal presented thus: -45. In the two consolidated petitions filed before the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Kericho, none of the petitioners demonstrated an existing employee-employer relationship with any of the respondents or with any public entity. Eric Cheruiyot, the 1st Petitioner in the consolidated petitions, described himself as a registered voter in Kericho County. At the hearing of this appeal, Mr. Simiyu, learned counsel for Eric Cheruiyot conceded that indeed his client did not have an employee-employer relationship with any of the respondents but insisted that his client had a right under Article 22(1) of the Constitution to institute the petition and that the same Article conferred jurisdiction upon the Employment and Labour Relations Court to hear and determine the petition.46. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th petitioners in the consolidated petitions (2nd to 4th respondents in the consolidated appeals) had separately tendered their one-month resignation notices from their respective positions which they held in the County Government of Embu. Their resignation notices were given in conformity with the provisions of section 43(5) of the Elections Act, 2011. Their respective resignation notices dated 5th January 2017 and 6th January were accepted by the Governor, County Government of Embu; the respondents were asked to hand over their respective dockets to their appointed successors; they were cleared, and their respective dues processed. The resignation notices were to take effect on 5th February 2017 and on 6th February 2017 respectively. On 7th February 2017 when the resignations were to take effect, the respondents sought to revoke their separate letters of resignation upon learning of the interim court order issued by the trial court on 18th January 2017 barring the IEBC from disqualifying public servants from participating in the 2017 general election for not vacating office six months prior to the general election. By this time the one-month notice period had already lapsed, meaning that their respective resignation notices had already crystallized.47. A notice of resignation is basically a notice of termination of employment, given by an employee to the employer. It is a unilateral act. The Black’s Law Dictionary (tenth Edition) defines resignation as follows:The act or an instance of surrender or relinquishing an office, right or claim. A formal notification of relinquishing an office or position, an official announcement that one has decided to leave one’s job or organization, often in the form of a written statement.48. There was no evidence placed before the trial judge to show that the resignation by the 2nd to 4th respondents was involuntary. The 2nd to 4th respondents resigned voluntarily in compliance with a section of the law that was in force at the time. The 2nd to 4th respondents having resigned, their resignations having been formally accepted, their dues paid, and their respective positions filled meant that their resignation notices had already crystallized. There was nothing to go back to. The employee-employer relationship between the 2nd to 4th respondents and the County Government of Embu had already come to an end. The Employment and Labour Relations Court ought to have arrived at this finding and immediately downed its tools.49. In the absence of an employee-employer relationship, it is our considered view that the Court that had jurisdiction to entertain and determine the issues raised in the consolidated petitions was in fact the High Court. The establishment of the High Court is found at Article 165(1) of the Constitution. Under Article 165(3), the High Court has jurisdiction to determine the question whether a right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights has been violated, infringed or threatened. Under Article 165 (d)(i), the High Court has jurisdiction to determine whether any law is inconsistent with or in contravention of the Constitution.50. The issues raised in the consolidated petitions, especially the issue relating to the constitutionality of section 43(5) of the Elections Act, 2011 are the kind of issues contemplated under Article 165 (3)(d) of the Constitution determination of which would be within the exclusive constitutional mandate of the High Court. This is jurisdiction flowing directly from the Constitution, which the Supreme Court alluded to in the matter of Interim Independent Electoral Commission (supra) and Samuel Kamau Macharia & another (supra).51. The Constitution appreciates that there are matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court on the one hand and those reserved and/or falling within the jurisdiction of the courts contemplated in Article 162(2) on the other hand, notwithstanding the fact that the latter courts enjoy the same status as the High Court. This Court in Karisa Chengo & 2 others v Republic [2015] eKLR held thus:…The jurisdiction of the High Court as established under Article 165 of the Constitution is limited in two fronts. First, it shall not exercise jurisdiction on matters reserved for the Supreme Court and matters falling within the jurisdiction of the two Courts contemplated in Article 162(2). It is therefore clear that the High Court no longer had the original and unlimited jurisdiction in all matters as it used to have under the repealed Constitution. It cannot deal with matters set out under section 12 of the ELRC Act and section 13 of the ELC Act. Conversely, the Courts contemplated in Article 162(2) of the Constitutioncannot deal with matters reserved for the High Court.52. This Court in theKarisa Chengo case (supra) held that status of a court is not synonymous to jurisdiction. In this context therefore, although the Employment and Labour Relations Court exercises the same power as the High Court in performance of its judicial functions, it has specialized jurisdiction and is not the High Court. It is important to point out that the finding of this Court in the Karisa Chengo case was upheld by the Supreme Court.53. Therefore, for want of an employee-employer relationship, we find and hold that the Employment and Labour Relations Court arrogated itself jurisdiction that exceeded that conferred upon it by law, which renders its decision a nullity ab initio.

30. From the above decision, which is binding on this Court, the Court of Appeal settled the issue of the jurisdiction of the Employment and Labour Relations Court. The Court of Appeal was very emphatic that the Employment and Labour Relations Court can only exercise jurisdiction in instances where there is an employer-employee relationship.

31. In the said cases, the Court of Appeal even declined to accord the Employment and Labour Relations Court jurisdiction in an instance where the Petitioners were challenging the validity of their letters of resignation on the grounds that the letters had been accepted by the employer and acted upon thereby extinguishing the employer-employee relationship. According to the Court of Appeal, any challenge thereof could only be taken up before the High Court.

32. Applying the foregoing to this matter, it is plain that there exists no employer-employee relationship between the Petitioners and any of the Respondents. As such, and until such an employer-employee relationship exists, the jurisdiction of the Employment and Labour Relations Court cannot be invoked.

33. As the matters in the instant Petition are those preceding any employer-employee relationship, there is no way the Employment and Labour Relations Court can claim any legitimacy over the subject proceedings.

34. In sum, the objection has no legal leg to stand and is for rejection.

35. The issue is, hence, answered in the negative.

Disposition: 36. Having found that the objection fails stand on the way of the Petition, the following final orders hereby issue: -a.The Notice of Preliminary Objection dated 14th August, 2023 is hereby dismissed.b.Costs to abide the outcome of the Petition.c.Parties shall take directions on the way forward on a date to issue.Orders accordingly.

DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT NAIROBI THIS 14TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2023. A. C. MRIMAJUDGERuling No. 1 virtually delivered in the presence of:Mr. Karani, Learned Counsel for the Petitioners.Mr. Kibet, Learned Counsel for the 1st – 6th Respondents.Mr. Wekhuyi, Learned Counsel for the 7th Respondent.Mr. Chebii, Learned Counsel for the 9th Respondent.Chemosop/Duke – Court Assistants.