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JudgmentERASTUS ONYANGO NYAMORI VS MAURICE OTUNGA,COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCE,MIGORI COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MIGORI2 min read

ERASTUS ONYANGO NYAMORI VS MAURICE OTUNGA,COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCE,MIGORI COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MIGORI

Employment and Labour Relations Court at Kisumu ELRC · · Stephen Radido

Summary

The court granted leave to commence judicial review proceedings against Maurice Otunga and the County Government of Migori. The court considered the motion, affidavits, and submissions but found that the ex-parte applicant failed to meet the test for grant of judicial review orders because the decree and Certificate of Order against the government had not been served. The applicant also did not respond to objections regarding the calculation of gratuity or demonstrate settlement attempts. The court declined the motion and struck it out with costs to the respondents due to the applicant's lackadaisical approach, failure to file within timelines, and failure to address the respondents' allegations.

1. The Court granted Erastus Onyango Nyamori (the ex-parte applicant) leave to commence judicial review proceedings against Maurice Otunga and the County Government of Migori on 19 June 2023.
2. The Motion was filed on 26 June 2023, and the Respondents filed on 25 August 2023 a replying affidavit sworn by the County Executive Committee Member Finance.
3. The Court gave directions on 26 September 2023 on the filing and exchange of submissions.
4. The ex-parte applicant’s submissions were filed on 6 November 2023 (should have been filed on or before 13 October 2023), while the Respondents filed their submissions on 26 October 2023.
5. The Court has considered the Motion, affidavits and submissions.
6. It is not in dispute that the Court entered judgment for the ex-parte applicant on 17 February 2021 in Kisumu Cause No. 308 of 2014, Erastus Onyango Nyamori v County Government of Migori & Ar. In the judgment, the Court awarded the ex-parte applicant compensation of Kshs 3,600,000/- and gratuity to be computed.
7. A decree was issued on 18 May 2021 and a Certificate of Costs on 4 May 2023. The Certificate of Costs was followed with a Certificate of Order against the County Government on 9 May 2023.
8. In the affidavit by the County Executive Member, Finance, the Respondents took objection to the grant of the order of mandamus on the grounds that the ex-parte applicant had not met the test for grant of judicial review orders because the decree and Certificate of Order against the government had not been served.
9. The deponent also averred that the calculation of gratuity had been done by the ex-parte applicant without involving the Respondents and that in any case, the Respondents had not declined to settle the decree, but was handicapped by inadequate budgetary allocations presently.
10. The ex-parte applicant has not responded to the assertions that he did not serve copies of the decree, Certificate of Costs and Certificate of Order against the government before invoking the court’s judicial review jurisdiction.
11. The ex-parte applicant has also not demonstrated how and/or the formula he used to compute the gratuity or whether the computations were made with reference to the Respondents.
12. Orders of judicial review may be declined even where there is merit.
13. It is not clear to the Court whether the ex-parte applicant approached the Respondents to settle before suing. The ex-parte applicant has taken a lackadaisical approach to these proceedings. He did not seek to respond to allegations of facts presented by the Respondents. He did not bother to file and serve submissions within the timelines agreed with the Court and no explanation has been tendered.
14. The ex-parte applicant moved the Court prematurely.
15. The Court declines the Motion and it is struck out with costs to the Respondents.
    ERASTUS ONYANGO NYAMORI VS MAURICE OTUNGA,COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCE,MIGORI COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MIGORI ERASTUS ONYANGO NYAMORI VS MAURICE OTUNGA,COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCE,MIGORI COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MIGORI