Lawrence Sampepe, Oltetia Kasura, Johah Magiroi, Kanaiyo Pastor, Cyrus Lonkushu, Benson Rotiken, William Kaseyie, Monicah Kasura, Jenniffer Wauapari, Jackson Tiambati, Julius Tanui, David Naisho, Dickson Sempele, Jckson Kenana, Alice Parmuya, Sospehine Alarus, Rahab Kenana, Thomas Wuapari, Kennedy Koool & Martin Koonyo v Maltauro Spa, Guff Consultants & National Environment Managment Authority [2018] KEHC 1494 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAKURU

CIVIL CASE  NO. 251 OF 2010

LAWRENCE SAMPEPE...........................1ST PLAINTIFF

OLTETIA KASURA..................................2ND PLAINTIFF

JOHAH MAGIROI....................................3RD PLAINTIFF

KANAIYO PASTOR.................................4TH PLAINTIFF

CYRUS LONKUSHU................................5TH PLAINTIFF

BENSON ROTIKEN.................................6TH PLAINTIFF

WILLIAM KASEYIE...............................7TH PLAINTIFF

MONICAH KASURA..............................8TH  PLAINTIFF

JENNIFFER WAUAPARI........................9TH PLAINTIFF

JACKSON TIAMBATI...........................10TH PLAINTIFF

JULIUS TANUI........................................11TH PLAINTIFF

DAVID NAISHO.......................................12TH PLAINTIFF

DICKSON SEMPELE..............................13TH PLAINTIFF

JCKSON KENANA..................................14TH PLAINTIFF

ALICE PARMUYA...................................15TH PLAINTIFF

SOSPEHINE ALARUS............................16TH PLAINTIFF

RAHAB KENANA....................................17TH PLAINTIFF

THOMAS WUAPARI...............................18TH PLAINTIFF

KENNEDY KOOOL................................19 TH PLAINTIFF

MARTIN KOONYO.................................20TH PLAINTIFF

-VERSUS-

MALTAURO SPA...................................1ST  DEFENDANT

GUFF CONSULTANTS.........................2ND DEFENDANT

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

MANAGMENT AUTHORITY..............3RD DEFENDANT

RULING

1. This suit was filed on the 6th October 2010 together with a chamber summons application seeking a temporary injunction against the defendants compelling them to be subjected to Environmental Audit Impact Assessment pending hearing and determination of the suit.

The application was heard – exparte – (J. Emukule) and a ruling delivered on the 19th October 2010. I have perused the proceedings and it does not appear like interparties hearing was ever done.

I have seen summons to enter appearance drawn and signed by the Deputy Registrar of the court on the 6th October 2010.  They are in the court file.

2. By its application dated 12th November 2014, the 1st Defendant moved the court under provisions of Order 5 Rule 1(1) and Order 7 rule 1 Civil Procedure Rules among others, seeking an order that this suit be struck out for failure by the plaintiffs to extract and serve summons upon the defendants since filing of the suit.

3. The Respondents/plaintiffs though served with the application have not responded by way of replying affidavits or grounds of opposition.

It is trite that non service of summons to enter appearance to the defendants renders a suit still-borne. It no doubt prejudices the sued parties by unexplained delay. A summons is an important document and without it, a suit cannot proceed.  It governs the timetable of pleading and subsequent progress of a suit.   See Order 5 Civil Procedure Rules.

4. The court can move suo moto to strike out a suit when it is satisfied that no summons are served upon the defendants. -

Anthony Karanja Wechuli Odwisa -vs- Alfred Munyanganyi (2006) e KLR.

5. Having been satisfied that the plaintiffs have failed to take out and serve summons upon the defendants, I proceed to strike out the plaintiffs suit filed on the 6th October 2010 with 50% scale fees to the defendants.

Dated, signed and delivered this 29th day of November 2018.

J.N. MULWA

JUDGE