Munene (Suing as Attorney of the Administrator/ Executor of the Estate of James Flavian Chege Munene - Deceased) v Ebrahim & 8 others (Civil Appeal (Application) 375 of 2019) [2024] KECA 1743 (KLR)
The bottom line
#Kenya's Court of Appeal excused a four-year delay in serving appeal papers on parties who sat out the trial, but confirmed you must serve everyone directly affected.
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 court should extend time to enable the applicant to apply for dispensation of service of the notice of appeal and record of appeal on the 2nd and 4th respondents
- 2.Whether alternatively to extend time within which to serve the notice of appeal and record of appeal on the 2nd and 4th respondents
Key legal issues
#Whether extension of time should be granted for service of the notice and record of appeal on non-participating respondents
The court allowed the extension despite a delay in excess of four years, because the appeal had not yet been heard, the application was unopposed, and no respondent would suffer prejudice.
The court applied the established Rule 4 factors: length and explanation of delay, prejudice, undue delay in bringing the application, public interest and prospects of the appeal. Although the delay exceeded four years and arose from counsel's mistaken belief that non-participating respondents need not be served, the appeal remained unheard and no respondent opposed the motion or claimed prejudice. The court excused the inordinate delay and the misapprehension about the proviso to Rule 79(1).
Whether non-participation of parties in the trial court excuses non-service of the notice of appeal on them
No. If an appellant wished to exclude non-participating parties from the appeal, the proper course was a timely application under the proviso to Rule 79(1).
The applicant had filed the notice and record of appeal on time but had never served the 2nd and 4th respondents, believing their non-participation at trial meant they need not be involved. The court held the correct route was the ex parte application contemplated by the proviso to Rule 79(1), to be filed timeously within seven days of lodging the notice of appeal. The applicant's misapprehension was excused in the circumstances, but the rule itself was affirmed as binding.
Legal principles established
#- The discretion to extend time under Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules must be exercised judiciously, and extension of time is an equitable remedy, not a right, assessed against the length of and explanation for delay, prejudice, undue delay in bringing the application, public interest and prospects of the appeal.
- An intended appellant must, before or within seven days after lodging notice of appeal, serve the notice on all persons directly affected, unless the Court directs otherwise under the proviso to Rule 79(1); non-participation of a party in the trial proceedings does not excuse non-service without such a direction.
Court orders
#- 1.Prayer (c) of the Notice of Motion dated 3rd October, 2024 allowed
- 2.No order as to costs
- 3.The notice of appeal and record of appeal to be served upon the 2nd and 4th respondents within 14 days
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- On appeal from
- Environment and Land Court at Thika
- ELC Case No. 512 of 2017
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules (extension of time)
Relief refused
#No order as to costs
The application was unopposed and the court declined to award costs to any party
Costs
No order as to costs
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.
Extension of time is not a right of a party but an equitable remedy available to a deserving party at the discretion of the court.
I therefore exercise my discretion and allow prayer (c) of the Notice of Motion dated 3rd October, 2024. No order as to costs. The notice of appeal and record of appeal to be served upon the 2nd and 4th respondents within 14 days hereof.
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Munene (Suing as Attorney of the Administrator/ Executor of the Estate of James Flavian Chege Munene - Deceased) v Ebrahim & 8 others (Civil Appeal (Application) 375 of 2019) [2024] KECA 1743 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2024). Not stated in the judgment. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2024/1743/eng@2024-12-06
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.