[2020] KEHC 7217 (KLR)
The court held that although the suit was not instituted by a proper plaintiff with legal capacity, the defect was not fatal and could be cured by amendment. The trial magistrate correctly exercised discretion in favor of substantial justice by allowing the respondent an opportunity to amend the pleadings to bring...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 7217 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Wotta-Haus Limited; Respondent: The Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer (suing as the officials and on behalf of House Of Hope)
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 72B of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed with conditions
- Judges
- TW Cherere
- Legal Topics
- Capacity to Sue, Proper Parties, Amendment of Pleadings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Wotta-Haus Limited
Appellant
The Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer (suing as the officials and on behalf of House Of Hope)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the suit was instituted by a proper plaintiff with legal capacity to sue.
- 2 Whether the defect in the pleadings regarding the plaintiff's legal status could be cured by amendment.
- 3 Whether the trial court erred in dismissing the preliminary objection on the plaintiff's capacity.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that although the suit was not instituted by a proper plaintiff with legal capacity, the defect was not fatal and could be cured by amendment. The trial magistrate correctly exercised discretion in favor of substantial justice by allowing the respondent an opportunity to amend the pleadings to bring in the correct party. The appeal was therefore disallowed on condition that the respondent files an application to amend its pleadings within 30 days, failing which the appeal would stand allowed and the suit struck out. Costs of the appeal were awarded to the appellant.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed with conditions
Orders
- The appeal is disallowed on condition that the respondent files an application to amend its pleadings within 30 days from the date of judgment.
- If the respondent fails to comply, the appeal shall stand allowed and the plaintiff's suit struck out.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISUMU
(CORAM: CHERERE-J)
CIVIL APPEAL NO.72B OF 2018
BETWEEN
WOTTA-HAUS LIMITED.......................................................APPELLANT
AND
THE CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY & TREASURER
(suing as theofficials and on behalf of House Of Hope)......RESPONDENT
(Being an Appeal from the Ruling and OrderinKisumu CMCC No. 239 of 2015
by Hon. W.K.Onkunya (SRM) on 18th July, 2018)
JUDGMENT
1. THE CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY & TREASURER (suing as the officials and on behalf of HOUSE OF HOPE)(Respondent) filed suit against WOTTA-HAUS LIMITED (Appellant) in the lower court seeking a refund of Kshs. 500,000/, costs of the suit and interest.
2. The Appellant denied the Respondent’s claim. The case was heard and before the Appellant closed its case, it applied to recall its witness which application was allowed by a ruling dated 25. 08. 17.
3. Before the recall of the Appellant’s witness, the Appellant by a notice of Preliminary Objection dated 14. 03. 18 and filed on 21. 03. 18 notified the Respondent that it would seek the dismissal of the suit on the ground that there was no proper plaintiff before the court. The court after considering the submission of both parties dismissed the Preliminary Objection.
4. Aggrieved by the trial court’s decision, the Appellant filed this appeal.
5. I have considered the submissions by counsel for both parties. It is not disputed that the proper complainant in this suit ought to be the House of Hope Kandaria Self Help Group. Since the said entity is not a legal person with capacity to sue or be sued, it can only sue through its officials who must be named in the pleadings. (See Francis Karani Elijah & 2 Others v Chairman (KANU) & 2 Others Misc. Civil Case No. 238 of 2002).
6. The fact that the trial court on 18. 05. 15 allowed the Respondent to sue through its officials did not exempt the Respondent from complying with the law relating to parties to a suit since a non-existent party cannot sue or be sued. (See Fort Hall Bakery Supply Co. v Fredrick Muigai Wangoe [1959] E.A 474 page 475).
7. The foregoing notwithstanding, I find that the trial magistrate rightly considered that substantial justice is better served by not striking out the Respondent’s suit for the reason that the anomaly in its pleadings can be cured by an amendment. (See Josiah Njoroge Njuguna v Ingobor Farm Co. (Registered Trustees) & 3 Others [2018] eKLR).
8. Consequently, this appeal is disallowed but on condition that the Respondent does within 30 days from today’s date file an application to amend its pleadings to bring in the correct party to the suit. In the absence of compliance with this order, this appeal shall stand allowed and the Plaintiff’s suit struck out. Costs of this appeal shall be borne by the Respondent.
DATED AND DATED IN KISUMU THIS12thDAY OFMarch. 2020
T. W. CHERERE
JUDGE
Read in open court in the presence of-
Court Assistant - Amondi
For the Appellant - N/A
For the Respondent- N/A