Nzau & another v Maingi [2024] KEHC 4076 (KLR)

Nzau & another v Maingi (Civil Appeal E202 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 4076 (KLR) (18 April 2024) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 4076 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Meru

Civil Appeal E202 of 2023

EM Muriithi, J

April 18, 2024

Between

Patrick Musyoki Nzau

1st Appellant

Pasha Enterprises Limited

2nd Appellant

and

Amos Maingi

Respondent

Ruling

1. By a certificate of urgency dated 7/12/2023 pursuant to Order 42 Rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules, Sections 1A, 2A & 3A of the Civil Procedure Act and the Constitution, the Appellants seek:1. Spent2. Spent3. That there be stay of execution of the decree in C.M.C.C. NO. 47 OF 2015 ISIOLO pending the hearing and determination of this appeal against the judgment and order of the Honorable Magistrate. 4. That cost of this application be provided for.

2. The application is premised on the grounds on the face of it and supporting affidavit of Shadrack Ruto, the legal officer of the Appellants’ insurer sworn on even date. On 15/7/2015, the company instructed Wangari Muchemi & Company Advocates to handle the lower court suit on behalf of the Appellants. Aggrieved by the judgment of the court, she instructed their advocates on record to appeal against it. She is advised by her advocates that the appeal raises arguable issues with high chances of success, and the same will be rendered nugatory if the decree is executed. The decretal sum of Ksh. 3009,122 is quite substantial and the Respondent is unlikely to refund it if the appeal succeeds. The Appellants stand to suffer substantial loss, as their goods are likely to be attached and sold by public auction unless stay is granted. The Insurance Company is not only ready to offer security for costs but also pay up to the insurance policy statutory limit after the appeal is heard and determined. The Respondent will not be prejudiced as he will have security of the decretal sum in case the appeal is unsuccessful and he will enjoy the fruits of his judgment as the money will accrue interest.

3. The Respondent has opposed the application vide his replying affidavit sworn on 27/12/2023. He accuses the Appellant of inordinate and unexplained delay by filing this application 2 months after the impugned judgment was delivered on 24/10/2023. He sustained serious injuries from the accident, stayed in the ICU from 12th to 28th December 2013 when he regained consciousness, he was forced to close down his businesses, his 2 daughters dropped out of school and his wife closed down her salon to take care of him. The Appellants cannot be taken seriously since the application has been filed by the legal officer of their insurer who is not a party to the suit. He avers that the Appellants have not demonstrated what substantial loss they will suffer if execution proceeds as the appeal does not raise any triable issues at all. He believes that the Appellants’ motive is to delay the execution process and deny him the fruits of the judgment, and urges the court to dismiss the application with costs. He is not impecunious as the Appellants arrogantly refer to him, and he is amenable to payment of Ksh. 3,000,000 to enable him cater for medical expenses and the balance to be deposited in an interest earning account in joint names of the advocates.

Submissions 4. The Appellants urge that substantial loss shall be occasioned to them and the appeal will be rendered nugatory if execution proceeds. They urge that the decretal sum is colossal and the Respondent’s means of refunding it are unverifiable and the Respondent can still access the fruits of his judgment if the appeal is dismissed. They urge that if there is any prejudice that the Respondent will suffer if stay is granted, the same can be compensated by an award of costs, and cite Nicholas Okaka & Anor v Alfred Waga Wesonga (2022) eKLR, Gyka Fuel Mart Ltd v Bwana Mshiri Sungura (2013) eKLR, Mohammed Abbas M.Somji v James Japheth Otieno (2009) eKLR and Devki Steel Mills v Robert Aputo Amariati (2014) eKLR. They urge that the application was filed timeously and if there was any delay, the same is excusable and has been plausibly explained.

5. The Respondent did not file any submissions.

Analysis and Determination 6. The law concerning applications for stay of execution of a Judgment and/or Ruling is well espoused in the provisions of Order 42 Rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules, as follows: -“No appeal or second appeal shall operate as a stay of execution or proceedings under a decree or order appealed from except appeal case of in so far as the court appealed from may order but, the court appealed from may for sufficient cause order stay of execution of such decree or order, and whether the application for such stay shall have been granted or refused by the court appealed from, the court to which such appeal is preferred shall be at liberty, on application being made, to consider such application and to make such order thereon as may to it seem just, and any person aggrieved by an order of stay made by the court from whose decision the appeal is preferred may apply to the appellate court to have such order set aside.No order for stay of execution shall be made under sub rule (1) unless: -a.The court is satisfied that substantial loss may result to the Applicant unless the order is made and that the application has been made without unreasonable delay.b.Such security as the court orders for the due performance of such decree or order as may ultimately be binding on him has been given by the Applicant.”

Substantial loss 7. The cornerstone consideration for granting stay is substantial loss, which has been espoused by the Court of Appeal (Platt, AG JA) in Kenya Shell Limited v Kibiru Another (1986) eKLR as follows:“…..If there is no evidence of substantial loss to the Applicant, it would be a rare case when an appeal would be rendered nugatory by some other event. Substantial loss in its various forms, is the corner stone of both jurisdictions for granting a stay. That is what has to be prevented. Therefore without this evidence it is difficult to see why the Respondents should be kept out of their money.”

8. The Appellants are apprehensive that if the decretal sum is paid to the Respondent, whose financial ability is unverifiable, the same will be lost, and the appeal will be rendered nugatory. The Respondent has merely denied that he is an impecunious person without rebutting the Appellants’ legitimate fears of his inability to refund the decretal sum if the appeal eventually succeeds.

9. The court notes from the grounds of appeal as raised in the Appellants’ memorandum of appeal, questioning inter alia the quantum of damages awarded and the apportionment of liability, that the appeal is indeed arguable, which is not one which must necessarily succeed and neither is it for the court to go into the merits of the intended appeal.

10. The court accepts that the decretal sum in issue of Ksh. 3,009,122 is quite substantial and the Appellants’ apprehension that the same may not be refunded, in the event the appeal succeeds, is evidently substantial loss.

Delay 11. The court finds that the application herein was filed without unreasonable delay on 19/12/2023 as the judgment sought to be appealed against was delivered on 24/10/2023.

Security for Costs 12. The court appreciates the Appellants’ willingness to offer security for the due performance of the decree, and the Respondent’s inclination to accept payment as security, of Ksh.3,000,000 and the deposit of the balance in an interest earning account in the names of the advocates.

13. In granting stay, this court endeavors to strike a delicate balance between the Respondent’s right to enjoy the fruits of his judgment and the Appellants’ undoubted right to appeal against the trial court’s decision.

Orders 14. Accordingly, for the reasons set out above, the court allows the Appellants’ application dated 7/12/2023 in the following terms:1. An order for stay of execution of the Judgment and Decree in Isiolo CMCC No. 47 of 2015 pending the hearing and determination of this appeal is hereby issued.2. The Record of Appeal to be filed within 60 days from the date hereof.3. The Appellants shall within 30 days from the date hereof pay to the Respondent the sum of Ksh.1,000,000/= and deposit the balance of the decretal sum of Ksh.2,009,122 into an escrow account in the joint names of the advocates for the parties.4. In the event of default of the aforementioned conditions, the stay of execution shall lapse and be of no effect.5. The costs of the application shall abide the outcome of the Appeal.Order accordingly.

DATED AND DELIVERED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024. EDWARD M. MURIITHIJUDGEAppearancesMs. Wangari Muchemi for the AppellantsMr. Arithi for the Respondent