Kariobangi Sewerage Self Help Group v Nairobi City Council, Merab Anyango Poche, Kariobangi North Light Industries & Jua Kali Association [2014] KEHC 7641 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND DIVISION

ELC CIVIL SUIT NO. 1680 OF 1999

KARIOBANGI SEWERAGE SELF HELP GROUP…….…  PLAINTIFF

VERSUS

NAIROBI CITY COUNCIL……………………….….1ST  DEFENDANT

MERAB ANYANGO POCHE………….…………….2ND DEFENDANT

KARIOBANGI NORTH LIGHT INDUSTRIES.….….3RD DEFENDANT

JUA KALI ASSOCIATION

RULING ON DIRECTIONS

This matter was first listed before me for hearing on 13th November 2012 and on this instance Mrs. Gulenywa Advocate appeared for the Plaintiff Mr. Ringoro held brief for Mr. Murugu for the 1st Defendant and Mr. Mirimo appeared for the 3rd Defendant.  The hearing was adjourned on the application of the 1st Defendant and the matter  fixed for mention on 3rd December 2012.  On 3rd December 2012 Mr. Nganga  Advocate held brief for Mrs. Gulenywa for the plaintiff, Mr. Murugu Advocateappeared for the 1st Defendant while Mr. Mirimo Advocate appeared for the 3rd Defendant.  The court directed the parties to take a hearing date for the matter at the court registry on a priority basis.

The suit was once again fixed for hearing on 23rd July 2013 and on the said date Mrs. Gulenywa appeared for the Plaintiff, MS Mburu Advocate held brief for Mr. Rigoro Advocate for the 1st Defendant and Mr. Mirimo Advocate appeared for the 3rd Defendant.  Owing to the absence of Mr. Rigoro Advocate the court adjourned the hearing and refixed the hearing of the case on 18th and 20th November 2013.  On 18th November 2013, the matter was yet again listed before me for hearing and MS Gulenywa was in attendance for the plaintiff but in a surprising twist Mr. Kanyi Ndurumo Advocate also attended and stated he was likewise appearing for the plaintiff.  The other representations were as in the previous occasions.

The court sought to know who between MS Gulenywa advocate and Mr. Ndurumo advocate was infact the Advocate representing the plaintiff.  MS Gulenywa submitted she was the advocate for the plaintiff and that Mr. Ndurumo had no locus to appear for the plaintiff as his previous application by way of Notice of Motion dated 5th November 2010 seeking orders that:-

The firm of M/S Gulenywa Jonathan & co Advocates was improperly on record and had been acting in the matter without instructions from the plaintiffs since the 27th September 2007, and

That the firm of M/S Kanyi Ndurumo & Co. Advocates was on 25th March 2010 was properly instructed to come on record for the plaintiff,

Was heard and dismissed with costs by Hon. Lady Justice P.M. Mwilu on 28th June 2012.  Mr. Ndurumo countered the argument and submitted that the ruling by Hon. Lady Justice Mwilu did not bar him from acting for the plaintiffs and besides he submitted his notice of appointment was still on record.

Although the court put off the matter to afford the counsel and their respective clients an opportunity to resolve the issue of representation of the plaintiff the counsel and their clients had not on 15/1/2014 when the matter was fixed for mention not agreed who between the two firms of Advocates was to represent the plaintiff in the matter prompting the court to reserve its ruling on directions as to the representation of the plaintiff for 21/2/2014.

I have perused the court record and it is apparent that the firm of Gulenywa Jonathan & co. Advocates has been on record for the plaintiff since sometime in 2007.  I have perused the ruling made by Lady Justice Mwilu and the submissions made before her.  While there is indication that the source of the problem stems from perhaps the existence of two competing groups among the members of the Plaintiff Association it is not within the province of this court at this stage and in these proceedings to determine who between the two groups is the bonafideone and/or which group should call the shots in the taking of decisions on behalf of the group.

Parties through counsel presented their arguments before Hon. Lady Justice Mwilu and the Judge having considered the arguments and material placed before her made the ruling that she did on 28th June 2012.  I cannot sit on appeal on the Honourable Judge’s ruling.  The net effect of Hon. Lady Justice Mwilu’s ruling is that she did not strike out the appointment of M/S Gulenywa Jonathan & Co. Advocates firm as Advocate for the plaintiff and she did not admit the firm of M/S Kanyi Ndurumo & Co. Advocates as being properly on record and instructed by the plaintiff.  The order dismissing the application of 5th November 2010 in my view meant that the firm of M/S Gulenywa & company Advocates remained on record for the plaintiff and the firm of Kanyi Ndurumo was not admitted on record as they sought to be.

No appeal was preferred against the ruling by Hon. Lady Justice Mwilu on the dismissal of the application by her and in the circumstances it is my view that Mr. Kanyi Ndurumo Advocate cannot have a Locus in this matter as counsel for the plaintiff as the firm of Gulenywa & company Advocates remains the firm on record for the plaintiff.  The court as Hon. Lady Justice Mwilu observed cannot appoint counsel for parties.

In case the plaintiffs have issues as to who should appoint counsel that is perhaps a matter for them to solve through some other fora.  The plaintiff being an association it would be expected that the registered officials and/or members at a duly conveyed general meeting would have capacity to appoint counsel by resolution to forestall situations as the present one where we have two lawfirms each claiming to be mandated to act for the plaintiff.

Until that happens and there is a valid change of Advocates filed the firm of Gulenywa Jonathan & Company Advocates shall continue to be the plaintiffs Advocates on record and/ so direct

Ruling on directions delivered at Nairobi this…21st …………….day of…February…….2014.

J.M. MUTUNGI

JUDGE

In presence of:

……………………………………….for the Plaintiff

……………………………………….for the Defendants