Republic v Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health exparte Susan Wamaitha Kamau [2016] KEHC 3164 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAIROBI

JUDICIAL REVIEW NO.  173 OF 2016

IN THE MATTER OF ORDERS 33 RULE 1 OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES

AND

IN THE MATTER OF SECTION   8 AND 9 OF THE LAW REFORM ACT, CAP 26 LAWS OF KENYA

AND

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS

REPUBLIC ………………..……………..………............................APPLICANT

VERSUS

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,MINISTRY OF HEALTH…………...RESPONDENT

AND

SUSAN WAMAITHA KAMAU ……………....................….EXPARTE APPLICANT

JUDGMENT

1. By a Notice of Motion dated  22nd  June  2016 and  filed in court  on the same  day, the exparte  applicant   Susan Wamaitha  Kamau ( administratrix of the  estate of  the deceased David Kamau  Muhia  instituted Judicial Review proceedings for Orders of Mandamus against the Hon. Attorney  General and the Medical Superintendent  Rift Valley  Provincial General Hospital seeking to compel the Respondents to pay her a sum of shs  396,261 due as  at 9th June  2016  with further  interest  until payment in full.

2. The application also seeks for payment to be effected within 30 days of the dated of the order and in default, the exparte applicant be at liberty to commence committal proceedings against the respondent; and   costs of the motion   be provided for.

3. The application is grounded on the premises  that there is  judgment   in Nakuru CMCC  327/2004 – David  Kamau Muhia ( now deceased) against the Honourable Attorney General  and the Medical Superintendent  Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, delivered   way back   on 20th July 2006 in favour of the   deceased David Kamau Muhia in the sum of kshs   128, 680 plus  costs and interest which sum  has now been calculated to be shs  396,261. 00 as at 9th  June  2016  but that  despite demands  for payment, the Ministry  of Health has refused to settle  the same.

4. The Notice of Motion is also supported by the supporting affidavit  of Susan Wamaitha   Kamau and annextures  which include   certificate  of  death  of the deceased   plaintiff   David Kamau  Muhia, grant  of letters of administration  in Succession cause No. 1527/2015 in favour of the applicant herein Susan Wamaitha Kamau, pleadings in Nakuru CM CC 357/2004  together with pleadings, judgment,  decree  and certificate  of costs   and Certificate  of Order against   the Government  pursuant  to Order XXVIII Rule  3  of  the old  Civil Procedure  Rules.

5. The applicant has also annexed copies of demand letters for the payment of decretal sum. In addition, the application  is supported by statutory  statement  and verifying    affidavit  sworn by the applicant   in support  of  an application for leave  to  apply  for Judicial Review  orders of Mandamus  dated   12th April  2016  and the leave  granted  on 7th June  2016  by Honourable justice Odunga J.

6. The application for Judicial Review Orders is not opposed by the respondents.

7. The exparte applicant’s counsel appeared before me this morning and argued the application orally, urging the court to grant the orders as prayed.

8. Mr Munene  counsel for  respondents  submitted that money  was due and  owing and  left the matter to court to the court  to decide  the fate  of the Judicial Review  application.

9. I have considered the Judicial Review application dated 22nd June 2016.  I am  satisfied  that  there is  judgment  and decree  as well as  certificate of order against the government  in Nakuru CM CC 357/2004  in favour of the deceased David Kamau  Muhia against the respondents herein which decree  has neither been settled nor the judgment appealed against to date.

10. I am equally satisfied that leave  to commence  these judicial review proceedings against the  government   was granted  on 7th June  2016 and the application  was filed  within 21  days granted  by  Honourable  Odunga J.

11. I am  evenly  satisfied  that despite  demands by the applicant’s counsel for settlement of the decree passed in the lower court, the respondents  have not shown any  intention or  willingness to pay the decretal  sum as decreed by the  court nearly 10 years  ago.

12. In the premises, I am satisfied  that the applicant  who is  now the  administratratrix  of the estate  of the deceased  David Kamau Muhia  has made  out  a case  for the grant  of the prayers for Judicial Review orders of mandamus to compel the Principal  Secretary, Ministry  of Health  to settle  decree   in Nakuru CM CC 357/2004.

13. Accordingly, I hereby  grant  the Judicial  Review  Orders  of Mandamus  compelling  the Principal Secretary, Ministry  of Health to settle  decree  in Nakuru  CM CC 357/2004 and pay the said decretal sum to the applicant herein Susan Wamaitha Kamau which now stands  at kshs  396,261 within  the next  90 days  from the date  of this order.

14. In default, the exparte applicant shall be at liberty to institute contempt of court   proceedings   to enforce the mandamus orders.

15. In view of the delay in filing of these proceedings, I order that   each party do bear their own costs of these Judicial Review proceedings.

Dated, signed and delivered at Nairobi this 13th day of September 2016.

R.E. ABURILI

JUDGE