Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates v African Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd [2025] KEHC 3524 (KLR)

Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates v African Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd (Civil Miscellaneous Application 30 of 2018) [2025] KEHC 3524 (KLR) (19 March 2025) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 3524 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Nyeri

Civil Miscellaneous Application 30 of 2018

DKN Magare, J

March 19, 2025

Between

Sophie Chirchir t/a Cherono Chirchir & Co. Advocates

Applicant

and

African Merchant Assurance Co. Ltd

Respondent

Ruling

1. This is a ruling over a Miscellaneous Application dated 28. 9.2021. The Applicant sought relief that judgment be entered for the Applicant against the Respondent in the sum of Ksh. 334,194/= being the sum indicated to have been taxed and certified by the Deputy Registrar on 13. 7.2021 as due to the Applicant with interest thereon.

2. The application arose from the Advocate/Client Bill of Costs dated 26. 3.2018. Be it as may, the Court has already assessed costs at a specific figure, that is, Ksh. 334,194/=.

3. The application is expressed to be brought under Section 55 (2) of the Advocates Act. The proper provision should be Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act which provides thus:Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of the Advocates Act -“’Client’ includes any person who, as a principal or on behalf of another, or as a trustee or personal representative, or in any other capacity, has power, express or implied, to retain or employ an advocate and any person who is or may be liable to pay an advocate any costs.”

4. As a fact, after filing of the Notice of Motion dated 28. 9.2021, there does not appear to be active participation of the Respondent. In the case of Musyoka & Wambua Advocates v Rustam Hira Advocate (2006) eKLR it was held: -Section 51 of the Act makes general provisions as to taxation, as the marginal note indicates. One of those provisions is that the court has discretion to enter judgment on a Certificate of Taxation which has not been set aside or altered, where there is no dispute as to retainer. This in my view is a mode of recovery of taxed costs provided by law, in addition to filing of suit...

5. The Applicant has done her part, serving the bill of costs. However, there is no evidence that a certificate of taxation was extracted and served. The interest will thus run from the date of the Ruling on taxation which is 30. 7.2023. The application is allowed.

Determination 6. I therefore make the following orders: -a.Judgment be and is hereby entered for the Applicant against the Respondent for Ksh. 334,194/=.b.Interest thereon is awarded effective 30. 7.2023.

DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT NYERI ON THIS 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. RULING DELIVERED THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS ONLINE PLATFORM.KIZITO MAGAREJUDGEIn the presence of: -Ms. Mbaabu for the ApplicantNo appearance for the RespondentCourt Assistant – Michael