Maurice Otieno Olunja v Kenpipe Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited [2019] KECPT 67 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE CO-OPERATIVE TRIBUNAL AT NAIROBI

TRIBUNAL CASE NO.61B OF 2013

MAURICE OTIENO OLUNJA................................... CLAIMANT

VERSUS

KENPIPE COOPERATIVE  SAVINGS  AND CREDIT

SOCIETY  LIMITED................................................RESPONDENT

RULING

The Matter  for determination  is a Notice of Motion  application  dated  4. 3.2019 seeking  the following  orders:-

1. Thatthe statement  of claim  dated  6. 3.13 and filed  by the  respondent be  struck out.

2. Thatthe sum of Kenya  shillings  5879. 65/= charged  as interest  from  30. 9.2010 to 7. 8.2012 and  paid  to the respondent  be refunded  to the applicant  forthwith.

3. That cost  of the application  and  the claim  be paid  to the applicant.

Based  on the grounds  on the face  of the application  and supported  by affidavit  of the  MORIS OTIENO  1st  respondent  herein. The same is  opposed  by the replying  affidavit  of KENNETH  KINGETHE finance manager of the claimant filed  on 2. 7.19.

This  application  was canvassed  by way of written  submissions the applicant  filed  their  written submission  on 22. 7.19 while  claimant  filed their written submission  on 1. 8.19.

We  have read  the pleadings  and the proceedings  on record and note  the circumstances  and the history  of the  file.  We note that the suit  was for  Kshs.1088458. 42/=vide  the  statement  of claim  dated  6. 3.13 we have also  noted  the ruling dated  25. 10. 13 in which  the application  dated  3. 7.13 was allowed  thereby  striking  out the  respondents’ defence.

That the respondent  filed  an appeal  in the  High Court  against  the said  ruling which  appeal  entered  judgment  on admission  for Kshs.498638/= plus  interest  at court  rates. The  Judge  thereafter  directed that the  balance  thereof  to go  for trial  and  the money  deposited  in the joint names  of the counsel’s  shall  so  remain  deposited  until  the suit  is finalized.

Looking  at these  orders  of the  High Court,  we  find that  these  orders are mandatory and legally  binding  upon this tribunal  and  the tribunal  must  accordingly execute  the orders  issued by the  High Court. The parties having been  ordered  to  canvass the remaining  amount  in trial  we are lost and wonder why  the applicant  decided  the file  an application  for the tribunal  to decide   on interest  charged  as per  the statement  of claim  yet this contested  amount  were  ordered to be  determined  by  way of  trial.  In the circumstances, we  find  the Notice  of motion  dated  4. 3.2019 is misplaced , lacks  merit  and purports  to divert  the binding  orders issued by the  High  Court. We therefore  dismiss  this  application  in its  entirely,  with costs  in the  cause,  and  in  compliance  with the High Court order  dated 29. 11. 18,  accordingly order  the parties  to fix  the matter  for directions for hearing.

Read and delivered in open court, this 7th of November 2019

In the presence of:

Claimant:Wangui holding brief for Milimo

Respondent:Otieno advocate

Court Assistant:Leweri and Buluma

B. Kimemia  - Chairman-signed

R. Mwambura  – Member-signed

P. Swanya  - Member-signed