S.S.F. Company Ltd & Munthiani Mbui v Moses Wafula Kwanusu [2017] KEHC 6848 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITALE

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 24 OF 2012

(Being an appeal arising from judgment and Decree of  Kitale Senior Principal Magistrate

J.N. Nang'ea delivered on 25/10/2012 in CMCC No  128 of 2008)

S.S.F. COMPANY LTD  …..............................1ST APPELLANT

MUNTHIANI MBUI.......…...............................2ND APPELLANT

VERSUS

MOSES WAFULA KWANUSU …........................RESPODNENT

JUDGMENT

1. According to the plaint filed on 16/5/2008 by the respondent, he was involved in a road traffic accident along Misikhu/Matunda road at Bondeni area on 31/3/2007 when motor vehicle Reg. No KAU 751E Mercedes Benz Lorry owned by the 1st appellant and driven by the 2nd Appellant veered off the road and hit him from behind as he pushed his bicycle uphill.  He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital while  unconscious.

He sustained the following injuries;

a) Lost the right ear

b) Bruises on left side of the head

c) Internal brain bleeding

d) Bruised left knee

e) Closed chest injury

2. The respondent blamed the appellant for the said accident as the driver of the said lorry was negligent. On its part the appellant filed a defence denying  the charge and laid blame severally at the door of the respondent.

3. The parties then proceeded to full trial when the  court found that the appellants were 100% liability and proceeded to awarded the respondent  general damages of Kshs 500,000/- as well as costs and interest.

Before dealing with the issues raised in the appeal, its worthwhile to summarise the facts as raised by the parties during trial.

4. PW1 the respondent testified that on the  material day at   around 5. 30 pm he was  heading home and was pushing his bicycle uphill . Suddenly he heard a moving sound from behind and he was hit by the appellants lorry.  He lost consciousness and recovered after 5 days at Kitale District hospital. According to him he was pushing his bicycle on  the left side of the road but on the   outerside. He produced the treatment notes  to back up  the injuries he sustained. He said that the appellant's driver did not hoot or warn him or at all so as to avoid the accident.

5. PW3 Linus Ligare produced the P3 form on behalf of the respondent. He confirmed the injuries sustained by the respondent and  that he was hospitalized  at Kitale District hospital between 31/3/2007 and 4/4/2007.

6. PW4 Ronald Sitati testified that they were relaxing outside Buidni hotel with one old man.  He saw the respondent riding his bicycle and crossed Nzoia bridge and he alighted.  He was carrying 8 kg of maize  and as he neared the hotel he saw a lorry painted red and yellow in  colour from behind hit the respondent from behind . The front tyres according to him hit the respondent and dragged the bicycle for some distance. The lorry stopped 50 metres from the scene . Both the appellant's lorry and the respondent were on the left side of the road.  He rushed to the scene with others and managed to rescue the respondent and was taken to the hospital. He also testified in the traffic case against the 2nd respondent who was  found guilty.

9. PW5 Dr James Chege produced the medical  legal report on behalf of the respondent which he prepared on 6/8/2007. He  enumerated the injuries as captured in the plaint.

10. PW7 PC Eliud Martimproduced the police Abstract form. He testified that he  visited the scene with other police officer and according to their findings the  cause of the accident was the lorry driver and not the respondent.  The 2nd respondent was charged with the offence of careless driving and fined Kshs 4000/-.

The appellant did not offer any defence and closed their case.

Analysis and Determination

11. None of the parties filed written submissions dispite being granted the opportunity to do so. The appellant appeal inclines on two issues and question. According to the appellant there was no  justification  fro0 the trial court having arrived at liability of 100% against the appellant against the  evidence on record.  On quantum they argued that the same was excessive in the circumstances.

12. Its trite  law that this court shall only interfere with the finding of the trail court of the same were found to be excessive, too low or premised on a wrong principle of Law.

13. On the question of Liability, apart from the defence on record, the appellant did not call any witnesses. It falls therefore that the only evidence is of the respondent. As to  whether the accident occurred is not in dispute. How then did the accident occur and who caused it.

14. From  the perspective of the respondent who was aged 77 years he had just crossed the bridge at Nzoia river and  had already alighted and was pushing his bicycle. He was on the left  but outside of the road. Suddenly he heard some  roar and was hit from behind and was  unconscious and found himself at the hospital.

15. This line of argument was not contested. It is therefore true that he was hit from behind. That evidence was supplied by PW4 who was able to see the events as he relaxed with his friends  outside Buidni hotel.   Infact he went ahead to testify in the traffic case against the 2nd appellant.

16. Taking into consideration the above facts and more  particularly that he was hit from behind, there was therefore sufficient reason why  the 1st appellant ought to have been more carefully to the road users ahead of him.

17. There was allegation that the respondent was riding in a zigzag  manner. The same remained an allegation. Nothing was shown to that effect.  Further the fact that the 2nd appellant was fined in the traffic offence  prima  facie suggest that he was indeed the actor of the accident.   Consequently I do find that the 100% liability against the appellant as found by the trial court was justified.

18. On the question of quantum

Lord Morris of Borth -y- Gest in the case of West(h) & Sons Ltd Vs Shepherd (1964) AC 326 at Page 345stated.”

“..... But money cannot review a physical frame that has been battered and shattered. All that judges and courts can do is to award sums, which must be regarded as giving reasonable compensation.  In the process there must be the endevour to secure some  uniformity in the general; method if approved. By  common consent awards must be reasonable and must be assessed with moderation. Furthermore, it is eminately desirable that so far as possible comparable injuries should be compensated of comparable awards. When all this is said it still must be that  awards which are awarded are to a considerable extent conventional ….”

19. Dr  Njenga conceded that the respondent sustained soft tissue injuries to his head, report   ear tube and left knee and loss of the right ear lube . He classified  the injuries as grievous bodily harm and that there was no permanent disability.

20. I note that the trial court  record on the Nakuru  case ofHosea Kipruto Cheptum Vs Dickson Ndicho Kimani NKR High Court No 335 of 1998. The injuries however were serious in that  matter as there was  compound fracture of the skull. In the instance case there wee no fractures but simply soft tissue  though they were considered grevious.

21. I therefore find the award of the  sum of Kshs 500,000/- excessive viz viz the injuries herein.  The respondent by the time of seeing Dr Njenga was already healed save for the scars.

22. I would therefore reduce the quantum from Kshs 500,000/- to Kshs 300,000/- which I  find sufficient and reasonable in the circumstances.

23.  In the premises I do allow the appeal as follows;

a) Liability at 100% against the appellant

b) General damages reduced from kshs 500,000/- to Kshs 300,000/-.

c) Special damages remains untouched.

d) The appellant shall get half cost of this appeal.

Orders accordingly.

Delivered this 2nd day of March, 2017.

_________________

H.K. CHEMITEI

JUDGE

In the presence of;

Miss Bartilol for Respondent

Analo for appellant

Court Assistant - Kirong