Moses Kibet Chelugui v Nacico Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Ltd & Attorney General [2017] KEHC 2200 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

CIVIL APPEAL  NO. 539  OF 2013

MOSES KIBET CHELUGUI......................................APPELLANT

-V E R S U S –

NACICO CO-OPERATIVE SAVINGS

AND CREDIT SOCIETY LTD.........................1ST RESPONDENT

THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL...............2ND RESPONDENT

(Being an appeal from the judgement of the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani Commercial Courts, Nairobi delivered on 11th September 2013 by Hon. Obulutsa in CMCC No. 7589 of 2007)

JUDGEMENT

1) Moses Kibet Chelugui the appellant herein, was employed by NACICO Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited, the 1st respondent herein, as an information technology manager.  The appellant while in the course of his employment at the 1st respondent’s premises, was arrested by police officers from Kamukunji Police Station on 28th February, 2007 at the  instigation of the 1st respondent herein.  He was detained and released without being charged.  The 1st respondent thereafter dismissed him from work for gross misconduct after the arrest and detention.  The appellant thereafter filed a claim against the respondents in the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Milimani commercial Courts, Nairobi and claimed for ksh.106,680/= general damages for defamation, unlawful arrest and detention.

2) Hon. Obulutsa learned trial magistrate entered judgment for the appellant as against the respondent for ksh.154,375. 20/= without costs and interests. The appellant being aggrieved by the judgment of the trial court, preferred this appeal.

3) On appeal, the appellant put forward the following grounds in its memorandum:

1. That the learned magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to appreciate the triable issues raised in the appellant’s defence to counterclaim and in allowing the respondent’s claim.

2. That the learned trial magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to weigh the evidence and testimony of the witnesses for the appellant as against the respondents evidence.

3. That the learned trial magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to evaluate the documentary evidence adduced by the appellant.

4. That the learned trial magistrate erred in law and in fact in finding that the appellant was only entitled to a sum of ksh.300,000/= in damages which is manifestly low.

5. That the learned magistrate erred in law and in fact in finding that the 1st respondent was entitled to the sums claimed in the counterclaim.

4) Though the appellant put forward the above 5 grounds of appeal, I am satisfied that those grounds can be summarised to three main grounds namely:

i. Whether the learned trial magistrate erred in holding that the 1st respondent was entitled to the counterclaim.

ii. Whether the learned magistrate erred in law and fact in his award on damages.

iii. Whether the findings of the magistrate on evidence adduced ought to be disturbed.

5) When this appeal came up for hearing, learned counsels appearing in this matter recorded a consent to have the appeal disposed of by written submissions.  I have re-evaluated the case that was before the trial court and considered the rival submissions.

6) The first ground of appeal is whether the learned trial magistrate erred in holding that the 1st respondent was entitled to the counterclaim.  The appellant submits that he was an employee of the 1st respondent and was dismissed from work. What is disputed is whether the said dismissal was lawful, and if so whether the 1st respondent is entitled to the sums claimed in the counter claim.

7) The appellant has argued that it is settled law that the basic principle in assessing damages for dismissal is that the employee must be put in the same position as if the employer had properly performed the contract.  Therefore, the prima facie measure of damages is the sum which the employer would have had to pay in order to bring the contract to an end lawfully, that is to say, the sum payable in respect of the notice period or remainder of the term of the contract if it is a fixed term contract.

8) The appellant is urging this honourable court to set aside the award in the counterclaim and in lieu thereof dismiss the counterclaim by the 1st respondent with costs to the appellant.

9) On the other hand it is the 1st respondent’s submission that the trial magistrate was right in holding that they were entitled to the counterclaim and the decision ought not to be disturbed.

10) It should be known that the appellant admitted in his defence to the counterclaim that he was granted a loan of ksh.125,000/= with interest at 1. 5% per month by the 1st respondent.  It was the 1st respondents counter claim that the appellant failed to repay the loan together with the accrued interest.

11) The appellant denied that he was indebted to the 1st respondent on account of the counterclaim.  The appellant did not tender any evidence to show that he had repaid the loan in full.   The 1st respondent on the other hand produced a statement of the appellant at pages 27 to 31 of the record of appeal which show the amount due and unpaid was ksh.154,375. 20/= on account of the loan and accrued interest at the time of making the counterclaim.  The 1st respondent relied on the case of Magunga General Stores –vs- Pepco Distributors Limited KLR 150where it was held that: in a claim for repayment of a debt, it is not sufficient to simply deny liability without giving some reason.  A mere denial is not sufficient.  The appellant had to give a good reason as to why he did not owe the money.  The appellant failed to discharge this responsibility and hence failed to prove its defence on a balance of probability.

12) After a careful consideration of the rival submissions vis-a-vis the evidence tendered before the trial court, I am convinced that the learned trial magistrate applied the correct principles. He analysed the evidence to determine the  counterclaim and eventually allowing it in favour of the 1st respondent and against the appellant.  The trial court’s decision therefore on this cannot be faulted.

13) The second ground of appeal is whether the learned magistrate erred in law and fact in his award on damages.  The appellant submits that the damages awarded to him for unlawful arrest and detention are inordinately too low and that he suffered mental anguish, loss and damage in which he lost his employment and the award of ksh.300,000/= cannot be adequate compensation of the same.  The appellant further argued that the trial magistrate failed to appreciate  the fact that the appellant was arrested without the 1st respondent conducting any prior investigation to ascertain the issue of fraudulent transaction that had occurred, leading to his arrest.

14) Finally, the appellant has also argued that  the award should be revised upwards.

15) The 1st respondent on the other hand did not submit on the issue on general damages awarded for unlawful detention but went ahead to submit under this head a sum of ksh.53,340/= awarded as special damages.  This award to the appellant as salary in lieu of notice is viewed as proper by the 1st respondent and that the appellant was not entitled to any more compensation on account of the claim for unfair termination.  The appellants contract of employment clearly shows that the same is  terminable by giving one month’s notice.  This means that if the 1st respondent intended to terminate the appellant’s contract it would have given the appellants one month’s notice or pay him one month’s salary in lieu of notice.

16) I have carefully considered the competing argument and further re-evaluated the tendered before the trial court evidence and I find no fault in the manner quantum was assessed by the trial magistrate.  I am satisfied that the trial  magistrate was properly guided in arriving at the award of kshs.300,000/=.

17) The third ground of appeal is whether the findings of the magistrate on evidence adduced ought to be disturbed.  This has been raised by the appellant because he believes that the trial magistrate did not weigh the evidence and testimony of the appellants witnesses as against the respondents’ evidence.

18) It is  the appellant’s submission that the 1st respondent ought to have investigated the claim before having him arrested.  Further to the foregoing the appellant submits that the 1st respondent caused to be published in the Daily Nation dated 21/3/07 at page 49 a photograph of the appellant with the appellant’s name in bold print and under the photograph alongside a public notice with the following words captioned:

“the person whose photograph appears here (formerly I.T. Manager) ceased to be an employee of NACICO Sacoo Ltd,  he has no authority to transact any business for NACICO Sacco Ltd”

19) The 1st respondent on the other hand submits that it was not defamatory for an employer like them to publish such a notice since it was intended to caution their clients or customers, not to deal with the appellant because he was no longer employed by the 1st respondent.

20) As it relates to evidence provided in the trial court, the 1st Respondent submits that the trial magistrate looked at both the evidence adduced and the documentary evidence provided and arrived at a sound finding. For the damages awarded the 1st respondent still reinforces his point as argued earlier that the appellant has not laid a basis justifying the award of a higher sum.

21) Having  considered the competing arguments and I find no fault in the manner the learned trial magistrate arrived at  his judgment.  The appellant has not shown what relevant factors the trial court failed to take into account or what factors not taken into account in arriving at the judgment.

22) With respect, I agree with the submission of the 1st respondent. Consequently, the appeal is dismissed.   In the circumstances of     the appeal a fair order on costs is to direct which I hereby do that each party should bear its own costs of the appeal.

Dated, Signed and Delivered in open court this 19th  day of October, 2017.

J. K. SERGON

JUDGE

In the presence of:

..........................for the Appellant

.....................for the Respondent