Kenyan case law

Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning & 4 others v Okoiti & 52 others; Bhatia (Amicus Curiae) (Petition E031, E032 & E033 of 2024 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 63 (KLR) (29 October 2024) (Judgment)

✦ The Court set aside the Court of Appeal's finding that the entire Finance Act, 2023 was unconstitutional. Sections 76 and 78 of the Act amending the Kenya Roads Act and Section 87 amending the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act were found unconstitutional.

Kenya National Highways Authority v Five Star Agencies Limited & another (Petition (Application) E021 of 2024) [2024] KESC 62 (KLR) (25 October 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The court found that no cogent questions of constitutional interpretation or application arose for determination by the superior courts below to warrant the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction under article 163(4)(a) of the Constitution.

Heineken East Africa Import Company Limited & another v Heineken International BV & 2 others (Petition (Application) E027 & E028 of 2024 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 59 (KLR) (Civ) (18 October 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The matter primarily involved contractual disputes, with minimal reliance on constitutional provisions, which failed the jurisdictional threshold under article 163(4)(a) of the Constitution.

Faraj v Mwawasi & 2 others (Application E050 of 2023) [2024] KESC 61 (KLR) (18 October 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The application is allowed with the following orders:

Njenga v Masto Holdings Limited & 4 others; The Co-Operative Bank Of Kenya (Interested Party) (Application E020 of 2024) [2024] KESC 60 (KLR) (18 October 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The Supreme Court dismissed the application for lack of jurisdiction under rule 31(2) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2020, holding that interlocutory applications require an existing petition.

Dari Ltd & 5 others v East African Development Bank (Petition (Application) E012 of 2023) [2024] KESC 58 (KLR) (Civ) (11 October 2024) (Ruling)

Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning & 4 others v Okoiti & 52 others (Petition E031, E032 & E033 of 2024 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 57 (KLR) (5 September 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The application for separate appeal is dismissed as none of the issues raised fall outside the existing appeal.

Gatuma v Kenya Breweries Ltd & 3 others (Petition E023 of 2023) [2024] KESC 52 (KLR) (Civ) (30 August 2024) (Judgment)

✦ The court held that unilateral changes in remuneration and terms of employment without informing the employee were tantamount to unfair labour practice. The court found that the redundancy notice issued by the 1st respondent was valid and that the subsequent employment of the appellant was based on a new contract which he agreed to. Therefore, the right to fair labour practice was not infringed.

Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning & 4 others v Okoiti & 52 others; Bhatia (Intended Amicus Curiae) (Petition (Application) E031 of 2024 & Petition E032 & E033 of 2024 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 55 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The court allows the applicant's notice of motion and admits the amicus curiae's brief. The applicant is deemed to have met the criteria for admission of an amicus curiae.

Trattoria Limited v Maina & 3 others (Petition (Application) 26 (E029) of 2022) [2024] KESC 54 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The court dismissed the appeal and ordered the costs of the appeal to be borne by the appellant.

Judicial Service Commission v Oduor & 5 others (Petition (Application) 18 (E025) of 2021) [2024] KESC 53 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The application is dismissed. There shall be no orders as to costs.

TMG & another v AP (Application E012 of 2024) [2024] KESC 48 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

Arale v Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission & 4 others (Election Petition (Application) E026 of 2023) [2024] KESC 51 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The reference is disallowed, and the instruction fees remain at Ksh 600,000/-.

Standard Chartered Financial Services Ltd v Manchester Outfitters (Suiting Division) Limited now called King Woolen Mills Ltd & 2 others (Petition (Application) E012 of 2024) [2024] KESC 50 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The execution of the Court of Appeal judgment is stayed pending the hearing and determination of SC Petition E012 of 2024.

Manchester Outfitters (Suiting Division) Ltd Now Called King Woolen Mills Ltd & another v Standard Chartered Financial Services Ltd & another (Application E011 of 2024) [2024] KESC 49 (KLR) (Civ) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The Court upholds the certification and determination of two issues as matters of general public importance.

Gitson Energy Limited v Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority & 5 others (Application E016 of 2024) [2024] KESC 56 (KLR) (30 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ This Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the application or the intended appeal.

Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning & 4 others v Okoiti & 52 others (Petition E031, E032 & E033 of 2024 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 47 (KLR) (20 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ Before granting an order for stay of execution, the appellant must satisfy the court that the appeal is arguable and not frivolous, and that the appeal would be rendered nugatory if the order is not granted. Additionally, it must be in the public interest that the order be granted.

Ondimu & another v Commissioner of Police & 3 others (Petition E031 of 2023) [2024] KESC 46 (KLR) (9 August 2024) (Judgment)

✦ The court held that the superior courts below failed to consider and pronounce themselves on all the reliefs and/or orders sought, and that the appellants needed to establish what particular elements caused them psychological torture.

Garama v Karisa & 3 others (Petition (Application) E020 of 2023) [2024] KESC 45 (KLR) (9 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The application is dismissed as an appeal disguised as a Motion for review.

Wanga v Republic (Petition E030 of 2023) [2024] KESC 38 (KLR) (2 August 2024) (Judgment)

✦ Counsel or a litigant is under strict obligation to categorize his or her case, indicating the constitutional or legal category under which he or she is moving the court. The court must independently satisfy itself that an appeal is properly lodged and that it has jurisdiction before entertaining it.

Krystalline Salt Limited v Water Resources Management Authority (Petition (Application) E007 of 2024) [2024] KESC 40 (KLR) (2 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the petition of appeal and the attendant application for stay of execution.

Janmohammed (SC) (Suing as the Executrix of the Estate of the Late HE Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi) & another v Lagat & 4 others (Petition 17 (E021) of 2023 & 24 (E027) of 2022 (Consolidated)) [2024] KESC 39 (KLR) (2 August 2024) (Judgment)

✦ The appeal is allowed, the judgment of the Court of Appeal is overturned, and the appellants are ordered to bear their own costs.

Freedom Limited v Mbarak; Attorney General on behalf of Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development & 3 others (Proposed Interested Parties) (Petition E009 of 2024) [2024] KESC 37 (KLR) (2 August 2024) (Ruling)

✦ The court reiterated the elements that must be satisfied for a party to be joined in a suit as an interested party.

Kenya Airports Authority v Otieno Ragot and Company Advocates (Petition E011 of 2023) [2024] KESC 44 (KLR) (2 August 2024) (Judgment)

Freedom Limited v Mbarak (Application E014 of 2024) [2024] KESC 36 (KLR) (26 July 2024) (Ruling)