Republic v Chairman Amagoro Land Disputes Tribunal & Isaac Benard Otome Oduya Ex parte Alfred Ididi Eketon Ididi & Vincent Epale Etyang [2015] KEHC 3816 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT BUSIA

MISC. APP. NO. 1 OF 2013

REPUBLIC........................................................................APPLICANT

VERSUS

THE CHAIRMAN AMAGORO

LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL.....................................RESPONDENT

AND

ALFRED IDIDI EKETON IDIDI ]..................EX-PARTE APPLICANTS

VINCENT EPALE ETYANG ]

AND

ISAAC BENARD OTOME ODUYA.....................INTERESTED PARTY

R U L I N G

1. ALFRED  IDIDI EKETON  IDIDIand VINCENT  EPALE ETYANG,hereinafter  referred to as the 1st and 2nd Applicants, filed the Notice of Motion  dated 10th July, 2014  seeking  for ‘’Leave  to file substantive  application  out of time.’’ The application is supported by the affidavit  of the 1st Applicant sworn on 10th July, 2014 in which he depones  to the following among others;

a. That they had filed an application dated 3rd January, 2013 for leave to file substantive application of judicial review  in Busia Misc. Application No. 1 of 2013.

b. That on the 4th  December, 2013, this  court granted them leave  and directed that the substantive  application be filed and served in 21 days.

c. That the Applicants instructed counsel to file the substantive  application on 4th December, 2013 but  the counsel  has failed to  do so and hence this application.

2. The application is opposed by Isaac  Benard Otome Oduya, hereinafter  referred to as the Interested Party, through  the grounds  of opposition  dated 19th May, 2015. Among  the grounds set out is that the application  is an abuse of the courts processes and that the Applicants  did not  offer sufficient  explanation  for not filing the application within the time given  in the order of 4th  December, 2013.

3. The  issue for determination  is whether  the court has the discretion to extend  time for filing  judicial  review proceedings. The  court has considered  the supporting affidavit, the grounds  of opposition  and the parties  submissions and come to the following conclusions:

a. That  applications for leave to file  judicial review  proceedings  are guided by Order 53 of the Civil Procedure  Rules.  Judicial Review proceedings  are a special  jurisdiction as opposed to criminal  or civil jurisdiction.

b. That superior   courts have in many decisions held that the court has no jurisdiction to extend the  time  set for applying for leave  to file for judicial review orders. [see Myeri H.C.C. Misc. App. No. 90 of 2003, MOTOKAA  NATHAUTHO  -versus- JOSEPH  NJERU & 3 OTHERS, JAMES  GITHINJI KIARA –VS- WILLIAM  WACHIRA MWANIKI [2005]eKLR, KIMANZI MBOO –VS- DAVID MULWA  C.A.C.A. NO. 233 OF 1996, and WILSON  OSOLO –VS- JOHN  OJIAMBO & Another [1991] eKLR]

c. That the court  lacks  jurisdiction  to extend the time to file for judicial review  order after expiry of the 21 days granted to the Applicants on 4th December, 2013. [See Republic  -vs- The Chairman, Amagoro Land Disputes  Tribunal  & Another, Exparte Applicant  Paul  Mafwabi Wanyama, Kisumu C.A.C.A No. 41 of 2013].

4. That having found as above, the court  finds the application dated 10th July, 2014 is without merit and is dismissed with costs to the Interested Party.

It is so ordered.

S.M. KIBUNJA,

JUDGE.

DATED AND DELIVERED ON…2ND……DAY OF…JULY,…………2015.

IN THE  PRESENCE OF;

1ST APPLICANT……………PRESENT…………………………………..

2ND APPLICANT……………PRESENT…………………………………

INTERESTED PARTY…… PRESENT…………………………………

JUDGE.