Maurice Opon Omom, Alexander Odundo Omolo, Charles Owino Pinda, George Thomas Odhiambo, James Moses Otieno Omondi, Julius Seda Ongong’a, Emmanuel Messiah Dongo, William Ogwari Obunga, Abraham Renson Opati, Andrew Lameck Odhiambo, Elijah Anyanga, Jacques Hannington Muga, James Oranyo Midamba, Maurice Okoth Kayugi, Martin Odhiambo Onginjo, Robert Ouma Ogana, Charles Ochieng Omolo, Albert Obonyo, Evans Opino Okoth, James Abonyo Abonyo, John Okello Kisero, Moses Ogalo Ouma, Moses Ogallo Ouma, Jerim Owino Nyamor, James Onango Orucha, Jerim Oluoch Odongo, Davis Obiri Seda, Silas Owino Agao Oguche, Ahbraham Renson Opati, Joseph Ageng’a Onuong’a, Samuel Zachary Okoyo, Evans Juma Owuor, Alexander Odundo Omolo, George Thomas Odhiambo, James Moses Otieno Omondi, Fredrick Owiti, Robert Ouma Ogana, George Wilson Onyango Dianga, Jack Hamilton Mbai, John Omolo Ogola, Joseph Odhiambo Wamiru, Martin Opiyo Mbaga, Ouma Gilbert Okina, Charles Sudhe Gwada, Jektone Kwede Angewo, Hillary Ngau Adero, Emmanuel Masia Dongo, Samuel Obu [2019] KEELRC 2560 (KLR)
Full Case Text
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT KISUMU
PETITION NO. 2 OF 2017
(Before Hon. Justice Mathews N. Nduma)
MAURICE OPON OMOM ..........................................................1ST PETITIONER
ALEXANDER ODUNDO OMOLO.................................................2ND PETITIONER
CHARLES OWINO PINDA..............................................................3RD PETITIONER
GEORGE THOMAS ODHIAMBO..................................................4TH PETITIONER
JAMES MOSES OTIENO OMONDI..............................................5TH PETITIONER
JULIUS SEDA ONGONG’A.............................................................6TH PETITIONER
EMMANUEL MESSIAH DONGO....................................................7TH PETITIONER
WILLIAM OGWARI OBUNGA........................................................8TH PETITIONER
ABRAHAM RENSON OPATI............................................................9TH PETITIONER
ANDREW LAMECK ODHIAMBO.................................................10TH PETITIONER
ELIJAH ANYANGA...........................................................................11TH PETITIONER
JACQUES HANNINGTON MUGA..................................................12TH PETITIONER
JAMES ORANYO MIDAMBA..........................................................13TH PETITIONER
MAURICE OKOTH KAYUGI...........................................................14TH PETITIONER
MARTIN ODHIAMBO ONGINJO...................................................15TH PETITIONER
ROBERT OUMA OGANA.................................................................16TH PETITIONER
CHARLES OCHIENG OMOLO......................................................17TH PETITIONER
ALBERT OBONYO...........................................................................18TH PETITIONER
EVANS OPINO OKOTH..................................................................19TH PETITIONER
JAMES ABONYO ABONYO..........................................................20TH PETITIONER
JOHN OKELLO KISERO...............................................................21ST PETITIONER
MOSES OGALO OUMA................................................................22ND PETITIONER
MOSES OGALLO OUMA..............................................................23RD PETITIONER
JERIM OWINO NYAMOR............................................................24TH PETITIONER
JAMES ONANGO ORUCHA........................................................25TH PETITIONER
JERIM OLUOCH ODONGO........................................................26TH PETITIONER
DAVIS OBIRI SEDA......................................................................27TH PETITIONER
SILAS OWINO AGAO OGUCHE...............................................28TH PETITIONER
AHBRAHAM RENSON OPATI...................................................29TH PETITIONER
JOSEPH AGENG’A ONUONG’A.................................................30TH PETITONER
SAMUEL ZACHARY OKOYO....................................................31ST PETITIONER
EVANS JUMA OWUOR...............................................................32ND PETITIONER
ALEXANDER ODUNDO OMOLO............................................33RD PETITIONER
GEORGE THOMAS ODHIAMBO............................................34TH PETITIONER
JAMES MOSES OTIENO OMONDI......................................35TH PETITIONNER
FREDRICK OWITI.....................................................................36TH PETITIONER
ROBERT OUMA OGANA.........................................................37TH PETITIONER
GEORGE WILSON ONYANGO DIANGA..............................38TH PETITIONER
JACK HAMILTON MBAI.........................................................39TH PETITIONER
JOHN OMOLO OGOLA...........................................................40TH PETITIONER
JOSEPH ODHIAMBO WAMIRU.............................................41ST PETITIONER
MARTIN OPIYO MBAGA.......................................................42ND PETITIONER
OUMA GILBERT OKINA.......................................................43RD PETITIONER
CHARLES SUDHE GWADA...................................................44TH PETITIONER
JEKTONE KWEDE ANGEWO..............................................45TH PETITIONER
HILLARY NGAU ADERO......................................................46TH PETITIONER
EMMANUEL MASIA DONGO..............................................47TH PETITIONER
SAMUEL OBUCHE OGAWO................................................48TH PETITIONER
WALTER ASER ODEP............................................................49TH PETITIONER
MOSES OGALO OGOMA.....................................................50TH PETITIONER
BARRACK OCHOLA OSENDO............................................51ST PETITIONER
HILLARY ONYANGO OPIYO..............................................52ND PETITIONER
MOSES ONOKA ONYERA...................................................53RD PETITIONER
SEMEI SOM OKELLO..........................................................54TH PETITIONER
ANDREW OUMA OTIENO..................................................55TH PETITIONER
GASPER OCHIENG OMOLO.............................................56TH PETITIONER
SAMWEL ONDIEGI OCHIENG........................................57TH PETITIONER
FRANCIS OKOTH ODHIAMBO........................................58TH PETITIONER
GASPER OCHIENG OMOLO............................................59TH PETITIONER
GERPHAS JULU OGWENO..............................................60TH PETITIONER
PETER OWINO OPONDO..................................................61ST PETITIONER
NICHODEMUS ODHIAMBO MUSIA..............................62ND PETITIONER
JOHN OKAKA GOMBE.....................................................63RD PETITIONER
JOSEPH AGENG’A ONUONG’A......................................64TH PETITIONER
SILAS OWINO AGAO OGUCHE.....................................65TH PETITIONER
ALBERT OBONYO.............................................................66TH PETITIONER
CHARLES OCHIENG OMOLO........................................67TH PETITIONER
EVANS JUMA OWUOR......................................................68TH PETITIONER
NICHODEMUS ODHIAMBO MUSIA..............................69TH PETITIONER
PETER OWINO OPONDO.................................................70TH PETITIONER
APOLO OCHIENG’ AMIENO...........................................71ST PETITIONER
ANDREW LAWARENCE ODHIAMBO............................72ND PETITIONER
ELIJAH ANYANGA.............................................................73RD PETITIONER
JACQUES HANNINGTON MUGA...................................74TH PETITIONER
EVANS JUMA OWUOR......................................................75TH PETITIONER
EMMANUEL MASIAH DONGO.......................................76TH PETITIONER
WILLIAM OGWARI OBUNGA..........................................77TH PETITIONER
FRANCO APUDO OTINEO................................................78TH PETITIONER
JACKSON AZERE AGINGA..............................................79TH PETITIONER
JOHN OTIENO ONYIMBO................................................80TH PETITIONER
JOSEPH ORIARO OKUMU.................................................81ST PETITIONER
LEONARD OKEYO OBEGO..............................................82ND PETITIONER
PAUL OLUOCH OWINO.....................................................83RD PETITIONER
SAMWEL ZACHARY OKOYO...........................................84TH PETITIONER
WASHINGTONONYIMBO MOLA.....................................85TH PETITIONER
JAMES MORRIS WERE......................................................86TH PETITIONER
SILVANUS OYANGE NDEDA..............................................87TH PETITIONER
GEORGE OWINO JAMES..................................................88TH PETITIONER
TOM ANGANG’O DADA....................................................89TH PETITIONER
DISMAS OCHIENG YIEMBE............................................90TH PETITIONER
PETER OCHOKOH OCHIENG.........................................91ST PETITIONER
EDWARD EMACKS OKELLO..........................................92ND PETITIONER
MARTIN NAKHAWANGA OGUTU..................................93RD PETITIONER
PAUL AUMA OSELU..........................................................94TH PETITIONER
THOMAS JOSHUA WERE................................................95TH PETITIONER
SAMWEL ZACHARY OKOYO........................................96TH PETITIONER
GERPHAS JULU OGWENO.............................................97TH PETITIONER
JOHN OKAKA GOMBE....................................................98TH PETITIONER
SILAS OWINO AGAO OGUCHE.....................................99TH PETITIONER
EVANS OPINO OKOTH...................................................100TH PETITIONER
JAMES ABONYO OBONYO............................................101ST PETITIONER
ANDREW ONG’ONGA CHANGE..................................102ND PETITIONER
JOHN OKELLO KISERO................................................103RD PETITIONER
MOSES OGALO OGOMA...............................................104TH PETITIONER
CHARLES OGOLA JAGONGO.....................................105TH PETITIONER
GEORGE OKUMU OBIERO..........................................106TH PETITIONER
JAMES SANDYS AJIGO.................................................107TH PETITIONER
JOSEPH CHARLES ONYANGO....................................108TH PETITIONER
JOSHUA OPIYO OMORO..............................................109TH PETITIONER
ODUOR PETER................................................................110TH PETITIONER
PHILLIPPS OCHIENG BOAZ........................................111TH PETITIONER
SILVANUS ANTHONY OGHINA...................................112TH PETITIONER
WILLIAM OJUNJUS OKECH.......................................113TH PETITIONER
PAUL OCHIENG WAUDI...............................................114TH PETITIONER
TOBIAS OBILO OBILO.................................................115TH PETITIONER
JULIUS ONGONGA SEDA............................................116TH PETITIONER
TOM NJURA OGOYA....................................................117TH PETITIONER
CHARLES MAUTI OGANGA.......................................118TH PETITIONER
ANTONY OLOO OGOLA..............................................119TH PETITIONER
GEORGE OWUOR OGOLA..........................................120TH PETITIONER
MAURICE AUSTINE AUMA OPONDO......................121ST PETITIONER
RAPHAEL VICTOR OTIENO......................................122ND PETITIONER
ALOIS CAVINS OKOTH...............................................123RD PETITIONER
FRANCIS OKOTH ODIAMBO....................................124TH PETITIONER
HESBON OBONG’O ATIENO.....................................125TH PETITIONER
JOSEPH AGENG’A OUNUONG’A.............................126TH PETITIONER
PAUL OMBEWA RUTHA............................................127TH PETITIONER
SISTO OWUOR HAIRA...............................................128TH PETITIONER
ROY GENO OKOLA....................................................129TH PETITIONER
VERSUS
THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL..................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. The application dated 20th July 2018 and filed on 24th July 2018 sought to strike out the Supporting Affidavits to the petition on the grounds that same are incurably defective in that they are commissioned by the petitioner’s Advocate contrary to the law. That some of the signatures on the Supporting Affidavits appear forged. That some of the petitioner’s never signed the Supporting Affidavits as unverified signatures have been cut out and pasted in the petition.
2. That all Affidavits were commissioned by a person who has an interest in the mater contrary to clear provisions of the law.
3. The petitioners filed notice of preliminary objection on points of law to have the notice of motion struck off on grounds that the application is frivorous, misconceived and abuse of court process.
4. That the notice of motion is not supported by any affidavit. That what purports to be an affidavit in support is deponed to by Alice Muringo Mate a legal officer without authorization from neither the cabinet secretary nor the principal secretary Department of Defence and is therefore incompetent.
5. That the Motion as filed offends the constitution [Protection of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms] Practice and Procedure Rules 2013. That the motion be struck off.
6. On the date the motion was to be argued, counsel Agina for the petitioner applied to withdraw all the Supporting Affidavits.
7. The court obliged and made an order marking all the Supporting Affidavits to the petition as withdrawn.
8. M/S Ayuma for the applicant/respondent went on to submit that the petitioners having withdrawn the supporting affidavits to the petition, the petition remains non-supported and it be struck –off. That in terms of the Constitution [Protection of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms] Practice and Procedure Rule 2013, populary known as the Mutunga Rules, the petition maybe supported or not by affidavits but the petitioners had elected to file supporting affidavits in support of the petition which they had now withdrawn from this Bar. Therefore the application be granted to strike the petition off.
9. Counsel Agina for the petitioners in reply submitted that in terms of the Mutunga Rules, there was no requirement to have a petition supported by affidavit. That this was a matter of choice. That the petition as filed without supporting affidavits is proper and sound and the court ought to proceed to hear and determine the petition as it is.
10. Mr. Agina further argued that the Notice of Motion before court is grossly defective since it is supported by an Affidavit of counsel on record, M/S Muringo Mate who is not an officer of the Ministry of defence and has no authority to swear the affidavit on behalf of the Ministry. That the application is defective and it be dismissed and the court proceeds to give directions on the hearing and determination of the application.
11. For the record, Supporting Affidavits commissioned by an advocate in conduct of the same matter the affidavits are meant to support offends the provisions of the Oaths and Statutory Declaration Act Chapter 15 of the laws of Kenya.
Section 4(1) of the Act reads
“4(1) A commissioner of Oaths may by virtue of his commissioning in any part of Kenya, administer any oath or take any affidavit for the purpose of any court or matter in Kenya including matters ecclesiastical and matters relating to the registration of any instrument; whether under an act or otherwise, and take any bail or recognizance in or for the purpose of any civil proceeding in the court or any subordinate court provided that a commissioner for oath shall not exercise any of the powers given by this section in any proceeding or matters in which he is the advocate for any of the parties to the proceeding or concerned in the matters or clerk to any such advocate or in which he is interested. See Caltex Oil Kenya Ltd vs New Stadium Service Station Ltd and Another. [2002] eKLR per Otieno Onyango- J.
12. The Supporting Affidavits now withdrawn were clearly defective and were correctly withdrawn.
13. The next issue for determination is whether a petition may stand alone without supporting affidavits of the petitioners.
14. In the matter, both counsel for the parties agree that it is not a requirement under Mutunga Rules 2013 to have a constitutional petition be supported by affidavit. It is indeed sufficient that grounds in support of the petition are set out in the petition itself.
Rule 10 provides the form of petition as follows:
“(2) The petition shall disclose the following:
(a) The petitioner’s name and address;
(b) The facts relied upon;
(c) The constitutional provision violated;
(d) The nature of injury caused or likely to be caused to the petitioner or the person in whose name the petitioner has instituted the suit on in a public interest case to the public, class of persons or community;
(e) Details regarding any civil or criminal case, involving the petitioner or any of the petitioners, which is related to the matters in issue in the petition.
(f) The petition shall be signed by the petitioner or advocate of the petitioner; and
(g) The relief sought by the petitioner.”
15. There is no other mandatory requirement in filing a petition. None can therefore be implied to deny a person the right to institute a petition. Support of a petition by sworn affidavit is therefore a matter left to the discretion of a petitioner. Affidavit filed in support may equally be withdrawn by the petitioner without affecting the validity of the petition.
16. Accordingly, the Notice of Motion to strike out the petition on grounds that it is supported by defective affidavits lack merit and is dismissed with costs in the cause.
Ruling Dated, Signed and delivered this 2nd day of May, 2019
Mathews N. Nduma
Judge
Appearances
M/S Alice Muringo Mate State Counsel for the Attorney General
Mr. Agina for the petitioners
Chrispo – Court Clerk