SIMON NDUNGU MUNGAI v PETER NGETHE GATHIGA [2006] KEHC 2109 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI (NAIROBI LAW COURTS) Civil Appeal 134 of 2006

SIMON NDUNGU MUNGAI ………………............................…………  APPELLANT

VERSUS

PETER NGETHE GATHIGA ………..…….......................……….    RESPONDENT

(An appeal from the Ruling and orders made on the 24th February 2006 by the Honourable

Mrs. Kabucho, resident magistrate Kiambu RMCC No.85 between

SIMON NDUNGU MUNGAI ………………...................…............PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

AND

PETER NGETHE GATHIGI ………………..................… DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

RULING

BACKGROUND

1.    The applicant/appellant/original plaintiff applied to amend his plaint to add a sum of Ksh.100,000/- to his claim.  The trial magistrate on hearing this application found it had no merit and dismissed the same.

2.    The applicant/appellant/original plaintiff – appealed against that ruling.  In the meantime the proceedings of the lower courts were set for hearing in the near future.

3.    The applicant  filed the current application for stay of proceeding pending appeal on 8. 3.06 and filed on 7. 3.06.

II:    Findings

4.    In the normal circumstances  there should be no stay for proceeding on an Interlocutory Application.  Nonetheless  in this circumstances on the issues raised on amendments of the  plaint touches on the question of the right to be fairly heard.

5.    I allow the said application and order that:-

“there be a say of proceeding in Kiambu Senior Resident Magistrates Court  Case No.85/01 pending the determination of the appeal at whatever stage.  Costs in the cause.

Dated this 18th day of May 2006 at Nairobi.

M.A. Ang’awa

Judge

Mang’erere Ngisa  & Co. Advocates for the appellant

C.K. Chege & Co. Advocates for the defendant