David Biketi Wati v Chris Munga Nyamaritandi Bichange; Sidian Bank Limited & Lumalla, Achieng & Kavere Advocates (Garnishee) [2019] KEHC 10257 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITALE

INSOLVENCY CAUSE NO. 2 OF 2017

DAVID BIKETI WATI.............................................. PLAINTIFF

VERSUS

CHRIS MUNGA NYAMARITANDI BICHANGE......DEBTOR

AND

SIDIAN BANK LIMITED...............................1ST GARNISHEE

LUMALLA, ACHIENG & KAVERE

ADVOCATES..................................................2ND GARNISHEE

R U L I N G

1. The notice of motion by the applicant dated 13th November  2018 prays for the following reliefs;

1) That Sidian Bank Limited and Lumallas, Achieng & Kavere Advocates be enjoined as garnishee.

2) A garnishee order Nisi be issued attaching the proceeds of sale of L.R. No. Kajiando/Kaputiei North/1342 deposited  in Accourt No. 01036020008845 Kilimani Branch, Sidian Bank Ltd Nairobi in the name of Lumallas, Achieng & Kavere Advocates in the Sum not exceeding  13,930,925  and the same be transferred to the Creditors account  number David Biketi Wati – I/D No. [xxxx], Account No.[xxxx]Family Bank, Nkuruma Road Branch, Mombasa in satisfaction of the decree herein.

3. The application is supported by the applicant's sworn affidavit dated even date together with the relevant annextures.  The facts and circumstances surrounding this case are clear and straight forward.  The Creditor/applicant is owed by the debtor herein and there is a decree to that effect dated 25th May 2017.  They then proceeded to record a consent dated 19th September 2018 on how the  decretal sum of Kshs 13,789. 000 was to be paid.

4. Apparently, and according to the applicant, the said consent was not fulfilled by the creditor.  He then applied that the substantive insolvency cause be determined.  While the court was drafting the decision, the applicant  came up with this cause stating interalia that the debtor had sold the property and there was every  possibility that he wanted to avoid settling the debt.  He argued that  since he  had breached the terms of the consent, he was now dealing with  him on a cash to cash basis.

5. The applicant  has attached unexecuted sale agreement between the debtor and other purchasers. He has equally attached correspondences between him and the lawyers on record.

6. On his part the debtor has argued in his replying affidavit  sworn on 20th November 2018 that the agreement for the Sale of the land was truly executed.  He also exhibited undertakings from one John Kiumi Wambugu in respect to the deal .

7. Berveline Chweya on behalf of Sidian Bank  had contend that the amount aforestated has a sum of Kshs 140,084. 4 as at 14/11/2018 and consequently it was not in a position to comply with the garnishee order.

8. Panlette Achieng on behalf of the firm of Lumallas Achieng & Kavere Advocates acting on behalf of the debtor admitted that indeed there were  negotiations going on in respect to  the Sale of suit property.  She admitted that the sum of Kshs 140,000. 00 was paid without executing the Sale agreement and that if the applicant  is allowed to carry on with the application then the entire Sale transaction stands threatened.  She deponed that the consent dated 27/9/2018 still subsisted till 9th January 2019 and thus the application was premature.

8. The court has perused the  rival affidavit herein as well as attached  annextures.  The issues as earlier indicated surrounding the creditor and the debtor are clear  and cannot be overstated again.  The only question is whether in the light of the issues deponed to by the parties the application can still be sustained.

9. What is evidently clear is that  despite the  uncontested Sale agreement attached to the applicant affidavit not executed, the debtor has received a sum of Kshs 140,000. 00/- of which Kshs 12 million was remitted to  Bank of Africa.

10. In effect therefore  it cannot be said that the Sale Agreement has not been performed and that the debtor was still negotiating with the parties.  By implication,  the agreement of Sale crystalised .  This is exhibited by the admission that the sum of  Kshs  12 million  was paid out to Bank of Africa. The aforesaid  payments in  whatever format was done after the consent had been  entered and the undertaking given.

11. Is the application herein premature?  In my view that is arguable depending on where one sits.  It appears that the applicant repudiated  the consent as it was not performed within 15 days.  The respondent still insist that the same is subsisting.  This court would not delve into the merits and demerits of the consent as it has not been asked to do so.  Nonetheless if the consent is still subsisting, then as the debtor rightfully stated the 104 days shall expire on 9th January 2019.

12. Again it would be  digressing if one was to  venture into the question of the  undertaking by Wambugu advocates.

13. For now I do not see any prejudice to be suffered by the respondents should the garnishee order issued.  The Sidian  Bank Ltd have argued that they are holding only Kshs 140,000/- or thereabouts in the stated  account.  From the attached statement contained in the affidavit of Chweya it  appeared that the sum of Kshs 14 million was  wired into that  account on 30th October 2018 and a sum of Kshs 12 million debited on 31st October 2018.  The amount came from one Tobiko Njoroge.

14. As such I do not see any prejudice to be suffered even by the said law firm if the sum received in the said account has no connection with the applicant as well as the debtor.  It is in my view incorrect to state that the other clients would be inconvenienced.

15. For the above reasons I shall allow the application as prayed.  The only rider shall be that the sum deposited in the account of Lumalla, Achieng and Kevere Advocates must  flow from the transaction in respect to the Sale of LR. No Kajiado/Kaputiei – North/1342.

Each party  shall bear their  respective costs.

Delivered, signed and dated at Kitale this 11th day of February 2019.

________________

H.K. CHEMITEI

JUDGE

11/2/19

In the presence of:

Samba for the Petitioner

Ingosi holding brief for Lumallas Achieng -  2nd Garnishee

Court Assistant - Kirong

Ruling delivered in open court.