[2013] KEHC 2888 (KLR)
The court found that the application for substitution had already been granted by consent in 1996, making any further application for substitution improper. The application dated 9th September 2010, which included prayers for reinstatement of the suit and other reliefs, was granted in full by Justice S.J. Chitembwa...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 2888 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Wilson Nato; Defendant: Francis Simiyu Wekesa; Applicant: Joseph Namasuka Nato
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 3 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Environment Case / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Previous Orders and on Status of Suit
- Outcome
- No further orders; respondent to prosecute application to set aside or suit stands concluded as per previous orders.
- Legal Topics
- Substitution of Parties, Reinstatement of Suit, Land Registration, Nullification of Title
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Wilson Nato
Plaintiff
Francis Simiyu Wekesa
Defendant
Joseph Namasuka Nato
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Environment Case / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Previous Orders and on Status of Suit
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the application for substitution of the deceased plaintiff with Joseph Namasuka Nato was properly before the court.
- 2 Whether the suit should be reinstated after dismissal for want of prosecution.
- 3 Whether the orders granted on 7th March 2012 should be set aside.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the application for substitution had already been granted by consent in 1996, making any further application for substitution improper. The application dated 9th September 2010, which included prayers for reinstatement of the suit and other reliefs, was granted in full by Justice S.J. Chitembwa on 7th March 2012. The respondent's subsequent application to set aside those orders was not properly argued, as counsel focused on opposing an already determined application. The court held that there was nothing further to rule on, and the respondent must either prosecute the application to set aside or treat the suit as concluded in accordance with the orders already granted.
Court Disposition
No further orders; respondent to prosecute application to set aside or suit stands concluded as per previous orders.
Orders
- No further ruling issued; respondent to take a hearing date for the application dated 23rd July 2012 or the suit is treated as concluded as per the orders of 7th March 2012.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
ENVIRONMENT CASE NO. 3 of 2013
WILSON NATO.........................……………..........……… PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
FRANCIS SIMIYU WEKESA..........……..…DEFENDANT/APPLICANT
AND
JOSEPH NAMASUKA NATO …..............APPLICANT/RESPONDENT
RULING
The applicant has filed an application dated 9th September 2010 which was argued and opposed before me. In that application, the applicant asked for;
Reinstatement of the suit.
The plaintiff herein Wilson Nato now deceased be substituted and be replaced by Joseph Namasuka Nato the applicant herein.
That the L.P No. Bungoma/Kabisi/323 registered in the names of the defendant be nullified, deregistered and or revoked.
That the L/.R. No. No. Bungoma/Kabisi/323 be registered in the names of the applicant Joseph Namasuka Nato.
Costs be provided for.
I have perused the court file and noted the following from the records;
The applicant through his advocate M/s Shitsama & Co. filed an application on 17th June 1996 which sought to substitute Wilson Nato – deceased with Joseph Nato. This application was allowed by consent on 28th June 1996. Therefore prayer (ii) for substitution was not proper as it was already granted.
The applicant filed an application through the same advocates on 13th January 1999 seeking to reconstruct the file as apparently the court file was missing. Before this application was prosecuted, the suit was dismissed on 26th July 2001 for want of prosecution.
The applicant then filed the application dated 9th September 2010. This application was granted on 7th March 2012. These were the words of Justice S.J. Chitembwa sitting at Kakamega,
“I have seen death certificate no. 404063, the application dated 9th September 2010 is granted as prayed.”
This application had five prayers and one of them was reinstatement of the suit. The respondents were not happy with the orders granted by the judge and filed an application on 24th July 2012. In that application, they are seeking to set aside the judge's orders of 7th March 2012.
Instead of arguing his application for setting aside, Counsel for the respondent entirely put arguments in opposition to the application of 9th September 2010. This application in my view was spent by the judge's order of 7th March 2012 which allowed it as prayed.
Having said this, there is nothing for me to write a ruling on. The respondent either takes a date for hearing of his application dated 23rd July 2012 or the suit is treated as concluded given the terms of prayer 3 and 4 of the application granted on 7th March 2012.
I say no more.
RULING DATED, SIGNED, READ AND DELIVERED in open court this 10th day of June 2013.
A. OMOLLO
JUDGE.