Constitutional Court (Petitions and References) Rules, 2005

Section Title Section These Rules may be cited as the Constitutional Court (Petitions and References) Rules, 2005.

Section Interpretation Section In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires— “ Court ” means the Constitutional Court established by article 137 of the Constitution; “ original court ” means a court of law other than a Field Court Martial, hearing proceedings in the course of which a question as to the interpretation of the constitution has arisen; “ petition ” means the petition of a party seeking to institute proceedings for a declaration or redress under article 137(3) of the Constitution; “ reference ” means a reference as to the interpretation of the Constitution as provided for in article 137(5) of the Constitution; “ Registrar ” means the Registrar of the Court .

Section Expeditious hearing Section The Court shall, in accordance with article 137(7) of the Constitution, hear and determine the petition as soon as possible and may for that purpose, suspend any other matter pending before it. The Court shall sit from day to day and may, for the purposes of hearing and determining the petition , sit during Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays where the Court considers it necessary for ensuring compliance with article 137(7) of the Constitution. In any case, the Court or the Deputy Chief Justice may order that the Registry of the Court shall stay open on Sundays and public holidays to facilitate the filing and service of documents connected with the proceedings of the petition .

Section Adjournment Section The Court may, in exceptional circumstances on application by a party to the petition , or of its own motion, adjourn the trial of a petition from time to time.

Section Evidence at trial Section All evidence at the trial in favour of or against a petition shall be by way of affidavit filed in Court . With the leave of the Court , any person swearing an affidavit which is before the Court , may be cross examined or recalled as a witness if the Court is of the opinion that the evidence of the witness is likely to assist the Court to arrive at a just decision. The Court may, of its own motion, examine any witness or call and examine or recall any witness if the Court is of the opinion that the evidence of the witness is likely to assist the Court to arrive at a just decision. A person summoned as a witness by the Court under subrule (3) may, with the leave of the Court , be cross examined by the parties to the petition . The Court may refer the matter to the High Court to investigate and determine the appropriate redress.

Section Consolidation of petition Section Where more petitions than one are presented in relation to the same matter, the Court may direct that some or all of those petitions be dealt with as one petition .

Section Death of petitioner Section A petition shall abate by the death of a sole petitioner or by the death of the survivor of two or more petitioners unless the cause of action survives or continues. The abatement shall not affect the liability of the petitioner or any other person to the payment of costs previously incurred. Where the Registrar is satisfied of the death of a sole petitioner or the death of the survivor of several petitioners, the Registrar shall forthwith, cause a notice of it to be posted on the notice board of the Court .

Section Death of respondent Section If the respondent to a petition dies, the petition shall not on that account abate.

Section Withdrawal of petition Section A petitioner may at any time after presenting a petition in the Court and before the petition is called on for hearing, lodge in the Registry, notice in writing that he or she wishes to withdraw the petition . The petitioner shall, before or within seven days after lodging the notice of withdrawal, serve copies of the notice on each respondent who has complied with rule 6. Where there is more than one petitioner, the petition shall not be withdrawn without the consent of the other petitioners. If all the parties to the petition consent to the withdrawal of the petition , the petitioner may lodge in the appropriate registry the document or documents signifying the consent of the parties; and the petition shall then be dismissed without costs. If not all the parties consent to the withdrawal of the petition , the petition shall stand dismissed with costs, except as against any party who has consented, unless the Court , on the application of the petitioner, otherwise orders. An application under subrule (5) shall be made within fourteen days after the lodging of the notice of withdrawal.

Section Irregularities Section Proceedings upon a petition shall not be defeated by any formal objection or by the irregularity of any notice or any other document sent by the Registrar to any party to the petition .

Section Form and contents of petition Section The petition shall allege— The petition shall conclude with a prayer that the Court — The petition shall— A petition under article 137(3) shall be in the form specified in the Schedule to these Rules. that an Act of Parliament or any other law or anything in or done under the authority of any law is inconsistent with or in contravention of a provision of the Constitution; or that any act or omission by any person or authority is inconsistent with or in contravention of a provision of the Constitution; The petition shall be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively, each of which shall be confined, as nearly as may be, to a distinct inconsistency or contravention complained of. No costs shall be allowed for the drawing or copying of any petition not substantially in compliance with this rule, unless the Court otherwise orders. make a declaration that an Act of Parliament or any other law or anything in or done under the authority of any law is inconsistent with the Constitution; or make a declaration that any act or omission by any person or authority is inconsistent with or in contravention of a provision of the Constitution; grant...

Section Presentation of petition Section The petitioner shall, at the time of presenting the petition — The petition shall be presented by the petitioner by lodging it at the registry of the Court . The petitioner shall lodge with the Registrar the petition together with eight copies of the petition for use by the Court and for service on the Attorney General, if the Attorney General is not a party. pay the appropriate fees; deposit two hundred thousand shillings as security for costs. Where subrule (3) is not complied with, the petition shall not be received by the Registrar .

Section Service Section Immediately upon presentation of the petition , the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the respondent. Where the Attorney General is not a respondent to the petition , the Registrar shall serve a copy of the petition on the Attorney General. Service of a document referred to in these Rules on a respondent shall be personal, except as provided in subrule (4). Where a respondent cannot be found within five days for effecting personal service on him or her, the petitioner or his or her advocate shall immediately make an application to the Registrar supported by an affidavit, stating that all reasonable efforts have been made to effect personal service on the respondent but without success. If the Registrar on an application under subrule (4) is satisfied that all reasonable efforts have been made to effect personal service on the respondent but without success, the Registrar may order that service be effected in any of the other ways prescribed by Order V of the Civil Procedure Rules. The Registrar shall, in any case, post on the Court notice board a copy of the petition .

Section Answer by respondent Section A respondent on whom a petition has been served shall, within three days after the service of the petition on him or her, furnish to the Registrar in writing, signed by the respondent or the advocate of the respondent, an address to which any document may be sent relating to the proceedings on the petition and intended for the respondent. Where the respondent fails to comply with subrule (1), the Registrar shall post up every such document as is referred to in that subrule on the Court notice board, and the posting up shall be sufficient notice of it to the respondent. Where the respondent wishes to oppose the petition , the respondent shall, within seven days after the petition was served on him or her, file an answer to the petition . The respondent shall lodge with the Registrar the answer together with eight copies of the answer for use by the Court and for service on the Attorney General if the Attorney General is not a party. The answer of the respondent shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating the facts upon which the respondent relies in support of his or her answer. The respondent shall, immediately upon lodging his or her answer wi...

Section Unopposed petition Section If a respondent upon whom a petition has been served, intends not to oppose the petition , he or she shall lodge a written notice of that intention signed by the respondent at the office of the Registrar at least three days before the day appointed for trial, exclusive of the day on which the notice is filed. The respondent shall provide to the Registrar with the notice at the time of lodging it, a sufficient number of copies of the notice for use by the Court and for service on the Attorney General and other respondents if any. The respondent shall, immediately upon lodging the notice, serve a copy on the petitioner or on his or her advocate. Where a notice is filed under subrule (1), the Registrar shall forthwith serve a copy of the notice on the Attorney General, if the Attorney General is not a party, and post up a copy of the notice on the Court notice board. Notwithstanding that the petition is not opposed, it shall not be abated on that account.

Section Place and time of trial Section Notice of the time and place of trial shall be given by the Registrar as soon as possible in the following manner— If, after notice of trial has been given as provided in this rule, and before the trial has begun the Registrar receives— The trial of a petition shall be held at such time and place as the Court shall direct. Where the petition and answer have been duly served, and any application for further and better particulars has been determined, or, as the case may be, where notice of intention not to oppose has been served, the Court shall set a date to hold a scheduling conference to sort out points of agreement and disagreement. After the scheduling conference, the Court shall set a date for trial of the petition which shall be within seven days after the date of the scheduling conference. The Court shall, in any case, fix the date for the trial of the petition within seven days after the due service of the petition on the respondent where the respondent has neither filed an answer to the petition nor filed a notice of intention not to oppose the petition . In a case to which subrule (3) of this rule applies, or where the respondent ha...

Section Trial in open court Section A petition shall be heard in open court by an odd number of Justices of the Court not being less than five. Where any Justice of the Court is prevented by illness or any other reason from attending the hearing of a petition , another Justice may be substituted and the hearing shall continue, subject to subrule (1).

Section Manner of making reference to Court Section Where a reference to the Court regarding any question as to the interpretation of the Constitution under article 137(5) of the Constitution is to be made, the original court shall submit the reference in terms of Form II of the Schedule to these Rules, stating the specific questions or issues to be answered or resolved by the Court . The Registrar of the original court shall submit to the Court eight copies of the reference and a reference shall be accompanied by a copy of the record of proceedings of the original court .

Section Service of reference Section Upon receipt of the reference from the original Court , the Registrar of the Court shall serve the reference on all parties to the proceedings in which the question of law has arisen and on the Attorney-General, and the addresses for service shall be as given by the parties in the proceedings in the original court .

Section Notice for directions Section At the time of service of the reference , the Registrar of the Court shall give notice to all parties and to the Attorney-General of the date for their attendance on the Court for directions on the following matters— whether the questions or issues set out in the reference should be amended; whether at the hearing of the issues, apart from arguments of law, there is need for oral or affidavit evidence; except that the Court may, of its own motion call such evidence as will assist it in determining the real issues arising out of the reference ; and the date of the hearing and the proposed length of the hearing which shall be within twenty one days or as soon thereafter as may be practicable.

Section Proceedings of court Section On receipt of the reference , the Court shall, as soon as practicable answer or resolve the questions or issues set out in the reference and may for that purpose, take or direct the original court to take such further evidence as may be required. The proceedings before the Court shall be by way of legal arguments of the parties either written or oral or both which shall be presented to the Court in such order as the Court may determine. The decision of the Court together with a copy of its proceedings shall be remitted to the original court .

Section Disposition of case Section The original court shall dispose of the case in accordance with the decision of the Court or the Supreme Court if there was an appeal from the decision of the Court .

Section Civil Procedure Act, and rules to apply Section Subject to the provisions of these Rules, the practice and procedure in respect of a petition or a reference shall be regulated, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the Civil Procedure Act and the rules made under that Act and the Court of Appeal Rules, with such modifications as the Court may consider necessary in the interest of justice and expedition of the proceedings. For purposes of appeals against a decision of the Court , the Supreme Court Rules shall apply with such modifications as may be necessary.

Section Revocation of Legal Notice No 3 of 1996 and Legal Notice No 4 of 1996 Section The Interpretation of the Constitution (Procedure) Rules, 1992 (Modification) Directions, 1996 and the Rules of the Constitutional Court (Petitions for Declarations under article 137 the Constitution) Directions, 1996 are revoked.