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JudgmentEMO TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED VS COUNTY EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR FINANCE, COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMABAY AND CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMABAY AND 1 Others2 min read

EMO TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED VS COUNTY EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR FINANCE, COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMABAY AND CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMABAY AND 1 Others

High Court at Homabay High Court · · Kiarie W. Kiarie

1. the respondents moved the court through a Notice of preliminary objection dated the 12th day of April 2024.  They are seeking the following orders:
a) That the Application dated 1st March 2024 offends the provisions of section 21 of the Government Proceedings Act and Order 29 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
b) That the Application dated 1st March 2024 offends the provisions of section 2 as read together with section 148 of the Public Finance Management Act for misjoinder of parties.
c) That the entire suit is incompetent and fatal in law and therefore undeserved of leave. [Spent]
2. The preliminary objection was opposed on the following grounds:
a) That the applicant attached a copy of the certificate dated 9th September 2022.
b) The suit is appropriately before the court.
3. A preliminary objection raises purely issues of law. The Court of Appeal in Mukisa Biscuits Manufacturing Co. Ltd vs West End Distributors Limited (1969) EA. 696 (Sir Charles Newbold P) observed as follows:
... A preliminary objection is in the nature of what used to be a demurrer. It raises a pure point of law which is argued on the assumption that all facts pleaded by the other side are correct. It cannot be raised if any fact has to be ascertained or if what is sought is the exercise of judicial discretion. The improper raising of points by way of preliminary objection does nothing but unnecessarily increase costs and, on occasion confuse issues. This improper practice should stop.
4. The preliminary objection is premised on the issue of misjoinder. On the issue of Misjoinder Order 1, Rule 9 of the Civil Procedure Rules provides as follows:
No suit shall be defeated by reason of the misjoinder or non-joinder of parties, and the court may in every suit deal with the matter in controversy so far as regards the rights and interests of the parties actually before it.
This application cannot be defeated because of misjoinder.
5. Contrary to the respondent's contention that a certificate as prescribed under section 21 of the Government Proceedings Act, was missing, the applicant attached a copy of the certificate dated September 9, 2022.
6. The preliminary objection lacks basis and is dismissed with costs.

Delivered and signed at Homa Bay this 12th day of November 2024.

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