IRENE WANJIRA MARARO vs JOSEPH NGUTHIRU KIN’GARUI [2002] KECA 283 (KLR)
The bottom line
#Kenya's Court of Appeal struck out a Notice of Appeal because the appellant never filed the appeal record even after getting extra time.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.Whether the Notice of Appeal should be struck out where the respondent failed to lodge the record of appeal despite an extension of time
Key legal issues
#Whether a Notice of Appeal may be struck out for failure to lodge the record of appeal within extended time
Yes. The Court held that failure to lodge the record of appeal despite an extension of time means an essential step under rule 80 has not been taken, justifying striking out the Notice of Appeal.
The Notice of Appeal was lodged on 29th March 1994. The Court had, on 24th October 1995, extended time to lodge the record of appeal, yet the respondent had still not lodged the appeal. The Court treated lodging of the record as an essential step in the proceedings under rule 80 of the Court of Appeal Rules, and its omission as grounds for striking out the Notice of Appeal. The application was unopposed, as the respondent, though served with the hearing notice, did not appear.
Legal principles established
#- Where a party fails to lodge the record of appeal within the time extended by the Court, an essential step in the proceedings under rule 80 of the Court of Appeal Rules has not been taken and the Notice of Appeal is liable to be struck out.
Court orders
#- 1.The Notice of Appeal lodged in the superior court on 29th March, 1994 is struck out
- 2.Costs of the application awarded to the applicant
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
- On appeal from
- High Court of Kenya at Nyeri
- H.C.C.C No. 268 of 1991
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Court of Appeal Rules, rule 80 (application to strike out a Notice of Appeal for failure to take an essential step in the proceedings)
Quotable passages
#Verbatim from the judgment, each located to the page it appears on in the official PDF — so these can be cited and checked directly.
Despite extension of time by this Court to lodge the record of appeal on 24th October, 1995 the respondent has not lodged the appeal.
In the result, this application is granted so that the Notice of Appeal referred to above is struck out with costs to the applicant.
Issues in the judgment
#The judgment describes the applicant as the party seeking to strike out the Notice of Appeal, but the Notice of Appeal was lodged by the respondent; the roles of applicant and respondent in the appeal are not further explained in the ruling.
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "IRENE WANJIRA MARARO vs JOSEPH NGUTHIRU KIN’GARUI [2002] KECA 283 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2002). Civil Appeal No. Nai. 123 of 2002 (Nyr 9/02). Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2002/283/eng@2002-10-31
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.