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5,386 judgments
December 2023
Court awarded two months’ pay per year plus statutory severance, included certain fringe benefits, and ordered refunds and a 10% devaluation boost.
  • Employment law — unfair dismissal — assessment of compensation — application of s.63(4) and (5) Employment Act — duration of service as primary factor; wages definition — inclusion of fringe benefits (airtime, milk, sugar, fuel, housing) and exclusion of employer pension/medical contributions for severance; mitigation of loss not applied as statutory requirement; failure to lead evidence precludes assessment of salary arrears.
4 December 2023
Prosecution failed to prove theft or gross negligence where employer’s lax banking practices created reasonable doubt.
  • Criminal law — Theft by public servant (s283) — presumption of theft and burden to rebut; Negligence by public servant (s284) — requires high degree of gross negligence or recklessness; employer lax banking procedures and corroborated explanation created reasonable doubt.
1 December 2023
Regulator acted ultra vires by treating subscription-management provider as a tariff-setting broadcaster; committee hearing was procedurally fair.
  • Communications law — Tariff regulation (s.74(1)) — Distinction between subscription broadcasting and subscription management services — Scope of licence — Ultra vires review — Delegation to committees (s.15) — Procedural fairness of regulatory enforcement hearing.
1 December 2023
The applicants’ non-consultation before redundancy violated fair labour practices; the SCA precedent was held per incuriam.
  • Labour law — Retrenchment/redundancy — Requirement to consult employees — Fair labour practices (Constitution s31) — Employment Act s57 and s61(2) — ILO Convention 158 (arts 13–14) — Per incuriam decision (Mkaka One) — Remedy: compensation assessment.
1 December 2023
November 2023
Security for costs ordered where non-resident, impecunious claimant pursued uncertain and potentially vexatious claims.
  • Civil procedure — security for costs — claimant resident outside jurisdiction and impecunious — uncertain, inconsistent and potentially vexatious pleadings — lack of documentary proof of fund transfers — order for security for costs.
29 November 2023
An agreed consent order is binding; a party cannot later assess interest contrary to that order.
  • Civil procedure — Agreed/consent order — Binding effect of Agreed Order endorsed by court — Assessment of interest — Res judicata — Variation of consent order requires fresh action — Late payment interest claims.
29 November 2023
Court dismissed application to set aside stay of execution, distinguishing appellate ‘inchoate’ doctrine from enforcement procedure.
  • Civil procedure — Summary judgment on liquidated sum — Inchoate judgments and finality — Apex Court jurisprudence on appeals vs enforcement — Order 23 r 6(1) effect of judgment — Order 28 r 11 enforcement order and costs — Stay of execution pending assessment of interest and appeal.
23 November 2023
20 November 2023
Court upheld eight-year custodial sentence for arson, finding it not manifestly excessive despite appellants being first offenders.
  • Criminal law — Arson — Sentence — Whether sentence manifestly excessive — Aggravating factors: mob justice, planning/premeditation, total destruction of property — First offender status insufficient to warrant reduction — Offer to rebuild not a substantial mitigating factor.
20 November 2023
Interlocutory injunction vacated due to suppression of material facts and absence of arguable tenancy right.
  • Interlocutory injunction — ex parte applications — duty of full and frank disclosure — suppression/misrepresentation of material facts — requirement of a serious question to be tried — tenancy evidence and allocation of statutory corporation housing — costs.
17 November 2023
Claimant had no contractual right of first refusal; council sale lawful; action dismissed and claimant ordered to vacate and pay arrears.
  • Local government property disposals — right of first refusal requires contractual or legal instrument; legitimate expectation requires judicial review procedure; failure to advertise does not automatically invalidate council disposals; specific council housing policy governs eligibility.
14 November 2023
Disciplinary minutes not obligatory; dismissal for supervisory neglect upheld; deduction of terminal benefits to recover shortages held unlawful.
  • Employment law — disciplinary procedure and natural justice — no legal requirement to record/tender disciplinary minutes; Appeals from IRC limited to questions of law or jurisdiction (Labour Relations Act s65); supervisory negligence may justify dismissal; Employment Act (ss52,56) restricts deductions from wages and prohibits offsetting unexplained stock shortages against terminal benefits.
14 November 2023
Application for summary disposal dismissed because disputed factual issues (including document authenticity and grounds for dismissal) require a full trial.
  • Industrial relations — Summary disposal on point of law — Procedure permissible only where no disputed facts — Disciplinary proceedings and alleged unfair dismissal — Authenticity of documents and compliance with Employment Act s57 — Matter ordered to substantive hearing.
14 November 2023
Application dismissed for failing Order I, rule 18 and for inordinate delay; costs awarded against the applicants.
  • Procedure — Order I, rule 18 SCA Rules — concurrent jurisdiction — same application must be first made to court below; delay and introduction of post‑order facts bar relief. Civil procedure — stay of execution/payment into court — discretionary, requires good grounds (risk of dissipation, non‑recovery). Labour law — section 72 LRA limits IRC’s power to award costs but does not preclude High Court/SCA awarding costs on appeals
  • Costs — appellate courts have discretion to award costs in labour appeals
10 November 2023
Delay and applicants’ failure to mitigate justified refusal of extension, dismissal of judicial review permission, and refusal of stay.
  • Judicial review — permission to apply — extension of time — unjustified 16‑month delay and failure to mitigate — forum misstated; matters better determined at trial — refusal of interlocutory stay of criminal proceedings.
10 November 2023
Applicants’ 16‑month delay and failure to mitigate precluded extension; issues suited to trial court, so judicial review application dismissed.
  • Judicial review — permission to apply; extension of time — 3‑month rule; interlocutory stay of criminal proceedings; delay attributable to applicant/counsel; appropriateness of judicial review versus trial court remedy.
10 November 2023
Applicant failed to show a real risk of injustice required to stay civil proceedings pending related criminal proceedings.
  • Civil procedure — Stay of civil proceedings pending criminal proceedings — Applicant must demonstrate a real risk of injustice, not merely allege prejudice — Burden of persuasion remains with the applicant — Alleged inability to cross-examine a witness insufficient without showing real risk of injustice.
3 November 2023
October 2023
31 October 2023
Whether a trust can be incorporated without statutory compliance and who may properly represent the corporate claimant.
  • Trustees incorporation — compliance with Trustees Incorporation Act and Trustees Incorporation Rules; requirement to examine Form A, constitutions, fees and verified signatures — Wednesbury unreasonableness — quashing order (certiorari) — nullity of forged certificate — locus standi and proper corporate representation.
27 October 2023
Court refused oral amendment to cure a jurisdictional omission, dismissed the amendment application and awarded costs to the respondents.
  • Civil procedure — Interlocutory applications — Oral applications permitted under Order 10 rule 2(2) — Amendment of applications — Jurisdictional provision (section 23 Courts Act) omitted — Court will not permit amendment that effectively overturns prior ruling — Costs awarded — Leave to appeal refused.
27 October 2023
Mandatory injunction suspended pending criminal proceedings; contempt not established absent willful disobedience; FIA-good faith protection considered.
  • Contempt of court — willfulness requirement; freezing orders — verbal versus written and due process; priority of criminal proceedings; Financial Crimes Act s.26 immunity for good-faith compliance.
26 October 2023
Court refused dismissal for want of prosecution and ordered defendant’s lawyers to pay the applicant’s costs personally.
  • Civil procedure — dismissal for want of prosecution (Order 12 r54) — burden of proof — admissible court file evidence — scheduling conference documents — costs — personal liability of legal practitioners.
24 October 2023
Application for leave to seek judicial review dismissed for inordinate delay and lack of arguable legal interest.
  • Judicial review — leave to apply — extension of time — inordinate delay — locus standi/legal interest — alternative remedies under Financial Services Act — procedural fairness and merits of administrative decision.
23 October 2023
Security-for-costs order in a labour appeal set aside because section 72 bars costs and such security would be futile.
  • Labour law — costs — section 72 Labour Relations Act proscribing costs in Industrial Relations Court and on appeal — security for costs — Supreme Court discretion under section 22 of the Supreme Court of Appeal Act and Rules — ex parte security-for-costs order set aside as futile.
23 October 2023
Bail pending appeal denied—no exceptional circumstances and court declined to resolve appeal merits at bail stage.
  • Criminal law — Bail pending appeal — s24(1) Supreme Court of Appeal Act — discretionary power; exceptional circumstances required — appellate court should not decide merits at bail stage — defilement conviction; sufficiency and consistency of trial evidence.
19 October 2023
Wrong procedural regime and incurable procedural irregularities led to dismissal of the plaintiff’s action; leave to appeal granted.
  • Civil procedure — transitional application of rules — 2017 Civil Procedure Rules do not apply to actions commenced before 3 October 2017; Rules of the Supreme Court govern. Procedural irregularity — incurable hybrid use of rules, failure to follow mandatory mediation, improper addition of party — grounds for dismissal. Application to dismiss for want of prosecution must be brought under applicable rules
18 October 2023
Accused discharged under section 247(1) after 15-year prosecutorial dormancy and State's unwillingness to proceed.
  • Criminal procedure — Prosecutorial delay — Discharge under section 247(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code — Discontinuance under section 77(1) limited to DPP — Section 286 remedies for delay — Right to fair trial within a reasonable time.
18 October 2023
A preliminary objection was sustained and the claimant ordered to bring contempt proceedings over an alleged breach of a freezing order.
  • Commercial law — freezing injunction — preliminary objection — full and frank disclosure — real risk of dissipation — arbitration clause — alleged breach of freezing order — contempt proceedings.
13 October 2023
Court sustained preliminary objection and directed claimant to bring contempt proceedings over alleged encashment of bank guarantee.
  • Commercial law — freezing injunction — bank guarantees — preliminary objection — full and frank disclosure — risk of dissipation — alleged contempt for cashing guarantee — arbitration clause.
13 October 2023
Bail granted where State failed to prove flight risk or danger to applicant's life, subject to conditions.
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4 October 2023
September 2023
30 September 2023
Violent, wilful disobedience of court orders warranted reinstated committal, fine, and police-enforced demolition.
  • Contempt of court — wilful disobedience of injunctions — violent public obstruction — reinstatement of suspended committal and fine — police-assisted enforcement and demolition — payment of costs
29 September 2023
Bank validly charged and sold mortgaged property; penalty/default interest unlawful and to be assessed and refunded.
  • Registered Land Act s60(2), s71 — statutory demand and mortgagee’s duty when exercising power of sale; Validity of charge despite typographical title error; Loans Recovery Act s3 — challenge to excessive interest; Contractual penalty/default interest held unlawful where compound interest sufficed; Bona fide purchaser and absence of fiduciary disqualification; Accounting disputes over loan debits and advance fees.
27 September 2023
Dismissal unfair where employer failed to prove misconduct and denied procedural fairness.
  • Employment law — unfair dismissal — substantive fairness (insufficient and ambiguous evidence of misconduct) — procedural fairness (failure to disclose evidence, lack of particularity of charges, inability to cross-examine accuser, potential bias of panellist) — burden on employer under s.61 Employment Act.
25 September 2023
The accused sentenced to five years for manslaughter balancing mitigating factors against the gravity of loss of life.
  • Criminal law — manslaughter — sentencing principles; mitigation: first offender, guilty plea, cooperation, time in custody; aggravation: loss of life, failure to render assistance, mature age; intruder/attempted sexual assault; proportionality of sentence.
23 September 2023
Court pierced corporate veil and dismissed interpleader, authorizing sale to satisfy the execution debt.
  • Enforcement of judgment — seizure and sale — interpleader application — piercing the corporate veil where company interposed to evade liabilities — abuse of process — Prest v Petrodel.
22 September 2023
Court upheld conviction on an unequivocal guilty plea and affirmed a 14-year sentence for defilement despite appellant's challenge.
  • Criminal law — Defilement — Plea of guilty — Section 251 CPE — Requirement that accused understands nature and consequences — Interpretation of plea — Appeals confined to record — Sentencing: 14-year starting point for defilement, mitigation vs aggravation.
20 September 2023
Claimant failed to prove Defendant owned the land sought for enforcement; alleged forged sale document referred for police investigation.
  • Enforcement of consent judgment — application for possession/charging order — burden of proof on claimant to show ownership — conflicting sale agreements and contested signatures — alleged forged document — referral to police for investigation — costs: each party bears own costs.
15 September 2023
Claimant failed to prove the defendant owned the land; competing forged documents prompted police referral.
  • Enforcement of judgment — possession of land — burden of proof on applicant — competing sale agreements — alleged forgery and perverting the course of justice — referral for criminal investigation — costs: each party to bear own costs.
15 September 2023
Default judgment set aside because summons was not personally served and substituted service was not authorised.
  • Civil procedure — set-aside of default judgment — requirement of personal service of summons — substituted service permissible only by court order — failure to show valid service justifies setting aside default judgment.
4 September 2023
The High Court dismissed the applicant’s customary-land claim as prematurely filed because statutory land tribunals, not the High Court, are the proper forum.
  • Customary land — Part VII Customary Land Act 2016 — jurisdictional forum for customary land disputes — requirement to establish customary land tribunals by legal instrument — effect of executive delay on access to justice — High Court restraint from usurping statutory forum.
1 September 2023
August 2023
Applications for interlocutory injunction and declaratory orders dismissed for procedural non-compliance and absence of a commenced proceeding.
  • Civil procedure — Interlocutory injunctions — Order 10 r8: mandatory pre-proceeding requirements; Declaratory relief — Order 19 r27: requires existing proceeding; Service outside jurisdiction — Order 8 r30; Service by email — Order 8 r8; Legal capacity and locus standi to sue; Curability of defects in sworn statements.
31 August 2023
Whether default judgment and order for allocation of alternative land are proper despite defective process and Government's failure to defend.
  • Default judgment against Government; valid service on Attorney General; procedural irregularities not fatal; court can order allocation of alternative land; public interest in protecting educational facilities; compensation governed by Lands Acquisition and Compensation Act.
30 August 2023
Court allowed a limited grant and held a single adult beneficiary applicant may be administrator; criticized improper affidavits and counsel supervision.
  • Probate—Jurisdiction under DEWIPA—High Court competence for estates above K1,000,000; Letters of administration—single administrator permissible where beneficiaries are adult; Evidence—affidavits must be signed by deponents; Professional conduct—counsel’s supervisory duties and effect of improper commissioning of affidavits.
25 August 2023
Magistrate erred by refusing jurisdiction without reasons; remedies for pre‑charge detention lie in habeas corpus/High Court, not necessarily bail.
  • Administrative law; duty to give reasons for judicial/administrative decisions — Criminal procedure; jurisdiction of magistrate courts vs High Court divisions — Habeas corpus and remedies for pre‑charge detention — Bail applications where no charge has been laid.
24 August 2023
Applicants failed to show an arguable constitutional challenge to ACB prosecutions absent DPP consent; leave for judicial review denied.
  • Constitutional law — prosecutorial powers — Corrupt Practices (Amendment) Act 2022 — repeal of consent requirement — Director of Public Prosecutions’ supervisory powers (s99 Constitution; ss76,79 CP&EC) — judicial review leave requirements (standing, timeliness, alternative remedy, arguable case) — challenge to statute should name Attorney General.
24 August 2023
High Court may refer apparent perjury arising in civil proceedings to a Resident Magistrate; petitioner’s credibility doubted.
  • Procedure and criminal referrals in civil proceedings — High Court jurisdiction under s108 Constitution and s12 Courts Act — CPR powers to re-open after trial but before judgment — Appearance of perjury on balance of probabilities — Credibility and weight of evidence — Referral to Resident Magistrate under Penal Code s101.
18 August 2023
18 August 2023
Statutory compensation under s.63, not common‑law damages, governs unfair dismissal awards; upward departures require clear, justifiable reasons.
  • Employment Act s.63 — statutory compensation for unfair dismissal; distinction from common‑law damages; s.63(5) minima based on remuneration and years of service up to dismissal; s.63(4) just and equitable uplift—must be justified; improper use of immediate/future loss heads; review powers under r.5A(2).
17 August 2023
Whether reporting missing funds amounted to false imprisonment or malicious prosecution of the applicant.
  • Tort — False imprisonment: liability where defendant laid a charge versus mere reporting to police; Malicious prosecution: elements — initiation, lack of reasonable/probable cause, malice, favourable termination; Defamation: need to prove specific defamatory words and publication; Legal costs reimbursement requires documentary evidence; Costs award — partial costs granted to successful head of claim.
9 August 2023