Muasya v Shell & Vivo Lubricants Kenya Limited (Cause E6554 of 2020) [2023] KEELRC 121 (KLR) (26 January 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation:
[2023] KEELRC 121 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
Cause E6554 of 2020
MN Nduma, J
January 26, 2023
Between
John Muasya
Claimant
and
Shell & Vivo Lubricants Kenya Limited
Respondent
Ruling
1.The notice of motion application serving before court seeks for an order in following terms:-1.That this honourable court be pleased to order stay of all Proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the respondent’s appeal being Nairobi Civil Appeal No E297 of 2020 – (Shell and Vivo Lubricants Kenya Limited v John Mwasiya)
2.The application is premised on grounds set out in the affidavit of Naomi Assumani and summarized on the face of the notice of motion itself in paragraphs (a) to (j). The nub of the grounds is that it is in the interest of justice that this court allows the Court of Appeal to weigh in on the matters decided by the court in its ruling in which it declined to entertain a preliminary objection by the respondents on the basis the same was not a pure point of law and must await determination at the hearing of the suit on the merits.
3.The application is opposed vide a replying affidavit of the claimant setting out the facts of the case while emphasizing that no prejudice will be suffered by the respondent if the orders sought are not granted since the matters raised in liminie, will be the subject of hearing and determination on merits before this court and the matter may be appealed upon delivery of judgment by this court.
4.The court has considered the depositions by the parties and the written submissions and is persuaded by the decision in Kenya Wildlife Service v James Mutembei [2019] eKLR in which the court cited with approval the Halsbury’s Law of England, 4th Edition, Vol 37 page 330 and 332 which sheds light on the threshold for stay of proceedings as follows:-
5.Accordingly, the court finds the application lacks merit and declines to grant the orders sought by the respondent. The suit to proceed on the merits.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI (VIRTUALLY) THIS 26TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2023.MATHEWS NDERI NDUMAJUDGEAppearancesMr. Muchiri for Respondent/ApplicantMr. Ochieng for claimantMr. Ekale – Court Assistant