James Munene Ndumbi v Sospeter Murimi Karitu [2015] KEELC 98 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA

AT NYERI

ELC  NO. 74 OF 2013

JAMES MUNENE NDUMBI ............................. PLAINTIFF

-VERSUS-

SOSPETER MURIMI KARITU ........................ DEFENDANT

RULING

1. This ruling is in respect of three applications dated 13thNovember, 2014; 24th November, 2014 and 20th   November, 2014. The first two applications are by the defendant while the third one is by the plaintiff.

2. The application dated 13th November, 2014 seeks an   order of stay of execution of the judgment in this matter pending the hearing and determination of the application and the intended appeal. The application is premised on the grounds that the applicant has filed an appeal against the judgment of this court (read ELC) delivered on 29th October, 2014 and applied for certified copies of proceedings to enable him compile the record of appeal.The application has been brought expeditiously.

3. Pointing out that the subject matter of the suit is land and money, the applicant contends that he stands to suffer  irreparably if the orders sought are not granted. The applicant states that he is ready to furnish security for    costs.

4. The application is supported by the affidavit of the defendant/applicant, Sospeter Murimi Karitu, where the grounds thereon are reiterated.

5. In opposition to the application, the plaintiff filed the grounds of opposition dated 18th November, 2014 where he contends that the applicant has no ownership right/interest of any kind known in law over the suit property (the parcel of land known as Mwerua/Kanyonkora/131); that the orders sought are incapable of being granted; that should the applicant  succeed in his appeal, he can be compensated with money and that the applicant has not satisfied the conditions for grant of the orders sought. Terming the application an abuse of the court process and lacking in merit, the defendant prays that it be dismissed with costs to him.

6. The defendant also filed the replying affidavit he swore on 18th November, 2014 and the further affidavit he swore on 2nd December, 2014 in which he basically reiterates the contentions in his grounds of opposition.

7. When the matter came up for hearing, counsel for defendant/applicant submitted that the applicant has met the conditions for grant of stay of execution pending appeal. In this regard, he stated that the application was filed expeditiously and reiterated the applicant’s contention that unless the orders sought are granted, by the time the court of appeal delivers its judgment in the intended appeal, there may be nothing left of the suit  property.

8. With regard to the requirements for grant of stay pending  appeal, counsel for the applicant referred to the case of  Sammy Some Kosgei v. Grace Jelel Boit (2013) eKLR  where it was observed:-

“...The relevant provisions in relation to stay pending appeal are contained in order 42 Rule 6(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010 which provides as follows:-

(2) No order for stay of execution shall be made under subrule (1) unless-

a) the court is satisfied that substantial loss may result to the applicant unless the order is made  and that the application has been made without unreasonable delay; and

b) such security as the court orders for due performance of such decree or order as may ultimately be binding on him has been given by the applicant.

It will be seen that the above provisions are couched in mandatory terms and three conditions must be satisfied before an applicant may succeed on an application for stay pending  appeal. First, the court must be satisfied that substantial loss will be occasioned to applicant unless the order of stay is made. Secondly, the application for stay pending appeal must be made without unreasonable delay; and finally, there must be security for due performance of the decree...

The more critical issues herein are whether the applicant stands to suffer substantial loss if the order is not granted and the question of security. In my view I think that if an applicant cannot demonstrate substantial loss, then the application ought to automatically fail and there would be no point in considering the question of  security. It is the question of substantial loss which is the epicenter in an application for stay of execution pending appeal...”

9. The legal position canvassed in Sammy Some Kosgeiv. Grace Jelel Boit(supra) is replicated in many cases.  To name but just a few, the position is replicated in the following cases:-

i)      Daniel Kihara Murage v. Jacinta Karuana Nyangi& Another (2015)e KLRwhere it was stated:-

“To justify the grant of stay, the applicant must show or establish facts to satisfy the court that if execution is allowed to proceed, it will result in a state of affairs that will substantially affect or negate the very essential core of the  applicant’s case as the successful party in the  appeal...The applicant ought to have placed  before the court facts to show to the satisfaction of the court that if no stay is granted, he will suffer a loss that is substantial. The mere fact that land is concerned does not make any loss   substantial.”(emphasis supplied).

ii)     Everlyn Jebitok Keter v. Henry Kiplagat Muge & 2 Others (2011) eKLR where it was stated:-

“It is usually a good rule to see if O.41 r.4   (present Order 42 Rule 6) of the Civil Procedure Rules can be substantiated. If there is no  evidence of substantial loss to the applicant, it would be a rare case when an appeal would be rendered nugatory by some other event. Substantial loss in its various forms is the corner stone of both jurisdictions for granting a stay...In this case the applicant has not shownhow he stands to suffer unless stay is ordered. She has therefore not demonstrated that substantial loss may result to her unless the order of stay is made.”

iii)    Robert Ngaruiya Chutha vs. Joseph ChegeNdungu (2014) eKLRwhere it was stated:-

“The Court of Appeal in the case of CharlesWahome Gethi v. Angela Wairimu Gethi, CivilApplication No.302 of 2007 (2008) eKLR held   that:-

“...It is not enough for the applicant to say that they live or reside on the suit land and that they will suffer substantial loss. The applicants must go further and show substantial loss that theapplicants stand to suffer if the respondentexecutesthe decree in this suit againstthem”....It is my finding that the defendant has not established that he shall suffer loss if theorders sought are not granted. Further, under Order 42 this court is not required to inquire into the merits of the intended appeal as that is aquestion that can only be determined by the Court of Appeal. Consequently, the ground that the appeal shall be rendered nugatory does not suffice....Lastly, the rules of procedure require that the applicant must offer security as thecourt may order. On perusal of the application before court, it is evident that the defendant has  not stated that he is willing and ready to givesecurity subject to the directions of the court....I  accordingly decline to grant the orders sought.”(emphasis supplied).

Analysis and determination:

10. From the cases cited above, it is clear that for this court to exercise the discretion vested on it in favour of the applicant, the applicant must satisfy the conditions set in Order 42 Rule 6(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules. More importantly, the applicant must by way of evidence demonstrate that unless stay pending appeal is granted he/she will suffer substantial loss. The applicant must also furnish security for satisfaction of such decree as may ultimately issue against him.

11. The instant application was filed on 24th November, 2014, which is less than one month from the time the judgment on which it is premised was delivered. In the  circumstances, I agree with the applicant’s counsel that the application was brought without unreasonable delay.

12. With regard to the requirement for security, I note that theapplicant has expressed willingness to furnish security for due performance for such decree as may ultimately issue against him.

13.   On whether the applicant has demonstrated that he stands to suffer substantial loss if the orders sought are not granted, I note that the applicant has merely stated that the subject-matter is land and money and he stands  to lose irreparably if the judgment hereto is executed.

14.   As pointed out above, it is not enough for the applicant to allege that if the judgment is executed he stands to suffer substantial loss. The applicant is under a legal obligation  to, by way of evidence, prove that he indeed stands to suffer substantial loss. It has been held in many cases, that the mere fact that the subject matter of the appeal is land is not proof that that the applicant will suffer substantial loss.

15.   The upshot of the foregoing is that the applicant has failed to demonstrate what substantial loss, if any, he stands to suffer if stay of execution is not granted. Consequently, the application for stay pending appeal fails and is dismissed with costs to the  plaintiff/respondent.

16.   Turning to the application for contempt dated 24th November, 2014, the defendant/applicant wants the plaintiff/respondent to be committed to jail for contempt of  court. The application is premised on the grounds thatthe plaintiff/respondent has blatantly violated the orders issued by this court on 14th November, 2014 and extended on19th November, 2014. It is the applicant’scase that the plaintiff/respondent has blatantly ignored the said orders of the court hence putting maintenance of peace and social order at risk. The applicant avers that the respondent has continued cutting trees and sawing   wood in the suit property despite the existence of an  order for maintenance of status quo. In order to uphold   the dignity of the court and the sanctity of court orders,   the applicant maintains that its mete and just that the   respondent be punished for the said contemptuous actions.

17.   The application is supported by the affidavit of the applicant sworn on 24th November, 2014in which it is deposed that in contravention of the orders of this court issued on 14th November, 2014 and extended on 19th November, 2014, on 20th November, 2014 the respondent sent men to cut down more trees and to saw  wood on the land. To prove that the respondent acted in contravention of the court order for maintenance of status quo issued on 19th November, 2014 the applicant has annexed to his supporting affidavit and marked as SKM3  photographs of labourers sawing timber a day after the order for maintenance of status quo was issued, that is on 20th November, 2014. It is the applicant’s case that despite having been warned by DCIO Kerugoya, the respondent continued with his disobedience of the orders herein by cutting more trees. Explaining that the respondent has threatened to physically assault him and  his family, the applicant urges the court to allow the application for contempt in order to uphold the dignity of    the court and the sanctity of court orders.

18.   In reply and opposition to the application, the respondent  filed the replying affidavit he swore on 2nd December, 2014 in which he admits having been served with the order for maintenance of status quo but denies been in contempt of the order. The respondent gives the   following reasons for his saying that he is not in contempt of the said orders of the court:-

a)  he had almost finished clearing the gum trees in the suit property;

b) the order for maintenance of status quo did not stop him from removing the trees that he had already cut;

c) The order was open to interpretation.

19. Concerning the photographs annexed to the affidavit sworn by the applicant in support of the application and which show some activities on the suit property even after he had been served with the court order, the respondent avers that no photographs were taken on the dates indicated in the applicant’s supporting affidavit.

20. The respondent has further deposed that it’s the applicant who is interfering with his quiet possession of   the suit property.

Analysis and determination

21.   It is not in dispute that the respondent was served with the order for maintenance of status quo on 14th November, 2014. Although the respondent denies having been in contempt of those orders, he categorically states that because he had already cleared the gum trees on the suit property and because the order did not restrain   him from removing the trees already cut and sawed,  based on his theory that the order for maintenance of  status quo was open to interpretation, he removed the trees/timber that had already been cut down/sawed.

22.   With regard to the photographs that indicate activities on  the suit property, even after he was served with the order for maintenance of status quo, he states that the photographs were not taken on the dates therein  indicated. He, however, does not state when the photographs annexed in the supporting affidavit of theapplicant were taken.

23.   Upon considering the totality of evidence adduced in support of the application for contempt and the explanation offered by the respondent in respect thereof,  I entertain no doubt that hiding in his theory that the order   for maintenance of status quo was subject to interpretation, the respondent decided to engage in    activities that amounted to contempt of the said order of    the court.

24.   On Status quo,the Blacks Law dictionary 8th Edition states that this is a Latin word which means “the  situation as it exists”.

25. An order for maintenance of Status quo has been explained byMurithi JinBoabab Beach Resortas quoted byF. Tuiyot, Saifudeen Abdullahi & 4 Othersin Mombasa High Court Misc. Civil Cause No. 11 of 2012           where he states:-

“In my view, an order to Status quo to be maintained is different from an order of injunction both in terms of the principles for grant and the practical effect of each. While the latter is an substantive equitable remedy granted upon establishment of a right, or at interlocutory stage, a prima facie case, among other  principles to be considered, the former is simply an ancillary order for the preservation of the situation as it exists in relation to pending proceedings before the hearing and determination thereof.It does not depend on proof of right or prima facie case. In its effect, an injunction may compel the doing or restrain the doing of a certain act, such as, respectively, the reinstatement of an evicted tenant or the eviction of the tenant in possession.  An order  for status quo merely leaves the situation or things as they stand pending the hearing of the reference or complaint. In its negative form, however, an  injunction may have the same effect as an order forstatus quo.”

26.   In the case ofPricillah Wanja kibui v. James Kiongo  kibui & another (2014)eKLR Ombwayo J. quoting the   above observation byMurithi J. stated:-

“In other words  a restraining injunction has the same effect as status quo order, as they preserve the state as it is at the date of the order. The status in  this matter was that the documents had been  executed but the charge had not been Registered at  the lands office. From the proceedings so far we can see that the charge was in the process of being  registered. The question is then to determine  whether as at the date the order was issued, the property was in the defendant's control. From the  annextures the bank accepted the loan application by the 2nd defendant on the 27th October 2011, and 2nd defendant had already signed the charge by the 2nd Nov, 2011. So the status quo as ordered could also include what was happening as at the date of the order which could also include the registration process which might have had commenced as at then, as its not known when charge was presented at  the lands office.”

27.  Although the order served on the respondent did not detail the activities that the respondent was not to undertake on the suit property, the court record makes it clear that the complaint that led to issuance of the order of maintenance of status quo was the cutting down of   trees. In this regard see the proceedings of 14th November, 2014 which are as follows:-

“…..The application is under certificate of urgency. We pray for a temporary stay of execution. The  respondent is cutting down the trees. The applicant stands to loose….”

28. My view of this matter is that if the respondent did not   understand what status quo was to be maintained, he ought to have moved the court for interpretation of the order as opposed to interpreting it to suit his purposes.

29.   Being satisfied that the respondent violated the order of maintenance of status quo by removing the trees he had already cut and cutting down more trees during the pendency of this application, I am satisfied that a case for   contempt of court has been made out against the respondent. Consequently, I direct that, within seven days of delivery of this ruling, the respondent files an affidavit to shows cause why he should not be punished for his said contemptuous conduct.

30.   With regard to the application dated 20th November,  2014, which seeks to, inter alia, permanently restrain the defendant/respondent, his agents, servants and or employees or any other person whomsoever acting under the defendants instructions from interfering , threatening, harassing the plaintiff/applicant and/or   interfering with the plaintiff’s quiet possession of the suit   property (parcel No. Mwerua/Kanyokora/131); my view concerning the application is that its success or failure is tied to the outcome of the respondent’s application for stay pending appeal. I say so because unless an order    for stay pending appeal is issued in favour of the   respondent, the respondent would no longer have any rights of supervision of the suit property pending appeal. In this regard, this court has already considered and   made a determination on the respondent’s application for stay pending appeal. As pointed out herein above, the respondent failed to meet the legal threshold for stay pending appeal. The legal implication of that finding is that the plaintiff is free to enjoy the fruits of his judgment, the intended appeal notwithstanding.

31. For the applicant to enjoy the fruits of his judgment unhindered, it is important that he be protected from any  claims in respect thereof by the respondent. However, as the orders of this court are subject to the outcome of the appeal filed by the respondent, the orders issued in favour of the applicant shall abide the outcome of the   appeal.

32.   The upshot of the foregoing is that the application by the applicant is allowed to the extent that an order of temporary injunction is issued restraining the respondent  by himself, his agents, employees or any person whomsoever acting under his instructions from harassing the plaintiff and/or interfering with the plaintiff’s quiet possession of the suit property pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal.

33.   Prayer 4 and 5 are issued as prayed.

Dated, Signed and Delivered at Nyeri this 2nd day of November, 2015.

L N WAITHAKA

JUDGE

In the presence of:

Sospetr Murimi Karithi – respondent

N/A for the defendant

Both counsels  absent

Court assistant - Lydia