1.        Civil Appeal

2.        Civil Practice and Procedure

3.        Subject of  Tribunal case

                                3.1           Assessment of rent.

                                3.2           18 tenants to:

                                                1^st respondent Lucy Waithera Musa and

                                                2^nd respondent Promast Enterprise Agent.

                                3.3           Assessment of rent made on 24^th May 2012.

                                3.4           Tenants asked to pay increased rent with effect

                                                from 1^st July 2012.

                                3.5           Tenant files appeal 5^th June 2012.

                                3.6           Tenants file application through authority given

                                                to appellant for stay of execution pending hearing

                                                of appeal dated 24^th April 2007.                                   

4.        Application 24^th April 2012

                                4.1           The Rent Restriction Chairpeson made assessment

                                                of houses within the vicinity and reduced rent.

                                4.2           The issue of the rent payable should be

                                4.3           Pending the hearing of appeal, there be stay of

5.        In reply:                              

                                                5.1           The application is defective and wanting.

                                                5.2           The matters refers concerns other parties not

                                                                party to appeal.

                                                5.3           The appellant/tenants not demonstrated application

                                                                would be successful. No proceedings attached.                                                                 

6.        Findings:

                                                ii)            There be stay of execution pending appeal.

7.        Case Law:                      

8.        Advocates   :

                        i)                     Vincent Shimenga in person - appellant/tenant

                        ii)                    K.K. Kibathi instructed by Kimandu Gichohi & Co Advocates

                                                for respondent/landlord                                                                                                                          

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT

AT NAIROBI

MILIMANI LAW COURTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Civil Appeal 278 of 2012

VINCENT SHIMENGA & 17 OTHERS …………........................…….….. APPELLANT/ TENANTS                                                                                                            

VERSUS

LUCY WAITHERA MUSA ………………………......................…….…  RESPONDENT/ LANDLORD                                                                                                          

PROMAST ENTERPRISE AGENTS ……………… 2^ND RESPONDENT/ ORIGINAL RESPONDENT                                                                                                          

(Being an appeal from the judgment and assessment of the Hillary K. Korir Chairperson, of Rent Restriction Tribunal delivered on 24^th May 2012 in Nairobi)

Application of Stay of Execution

I. BACKGROUND   

1.    The applicant filed appeal with authority from 17 others. The applicants are tenants of the first respondent Lucy Waithera Musa together with the 2^nd respondent Promast Enterprise Agent.

2.    On 24^th May 2012, as assessment of rent for their dwelling house was made by the chairman and member of the Rent Restriction Tribunal. The effect was to increase the rent.

3.    Being dissatisfied, this appeal herein was filed (5^th June 2012). But pending the appeal, the appellants filed an application dated

26^th July 2012 duly awarded.

II    APPLICATION DATED 26^TH JULY 2012

4.    The appellants argued that compared to others dwelling houses in the vicinity, the same Rent Restriction Tribunal had reduced the amount of rent to be paid. Those dwelling houses were superior and larger that the tin houses they were in.

5.    The issue of rent payable should be re-examined in the appeal. But pending the hearing of the appeal there be stay of execution.

6.    In reply, the application is said to be defective and wanting.

7.    The matters referred to by the appellants referred to other parties not part of the appeal.

8.    The respondent stated that the tenant did not demonstrate that they would be successful and as such their application be dismissed.

9.    In an appeal before court from the Rent Restriction Tribunal, the issue herein would be assessment of rent. The perishable houses rooms in the vicinity would be taken into account in arriving at the assessment of rent.

10.     The tenants have demonstrated the discrepancy between themselves and their neighbours where rents were assessed by the same tribunal. This is yet to be proved in the appeal. It was an application brought without delay.

11.     I would hereby allow the application for stay of execution be and is hereby granted pending the hearing of the appeal.

12.     The costs be in the appeal.

DATED THIS 17^TH DAY OF JUNE 2012 AT NAIROBI

M.A. ANG’AWA

                                i)             Vincent Shimenga in person - appellant/tenant

                                ii)            K.K. Kibathi instructed by Kimandu Gichohi & Co Advocates

                                                for respondent/landlord