Case ID:44317

Menginya Salim Murgani v Kenya Revenue Authority [2012] eKLR

Case Metadata

Case Number:

Petition 6 of 2012

Parties:

Menginya Salim Murgani v Kenya Revenue Authority

Date Delivered:

05 Jul 2012

Case Class:

Civil

Court:

Supreme Court of Kenya

Case Action:

Ruling

Judge(s):

Philip Kiptoo Tunoi, Mohammed Khadhar Ibrahim

Citation:

Menginya Salim Murgani v Kenya Revenue Authority [2012] eKLR

Advocates:

none

Case History:

(Being a Petition for Review of the Judgment and Order of the Court of Appeal of Kenya (Omolo, Waki and Nyamu JJA) in the Civil Appeal No.108 of 2009 delivered on 16th July 2010, arising from the judgment and decree of the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, Ojwang J, delivered on 22nd September 2008)

Court Division:

Civil

County:

Nairobi

Advocates:

none

History Docket No:

Civil Appeal No.108 of 2009

History Judges:

Joseph Gregory Nyamu, Philip Nyamu Waki, Riaga Samuel Cornelius Omolo

Case Summary:

Reported by BA Ikamari

Issue:-

i. Whether the review of the judgments and decisions of judges removed from office pursuant to the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011, could be carried on while a review of the decisions of the Vetting Board concerning the removal of the same judges was still pending.

Constitutional law

- appointment, tenure and removal of judges of the Court of Appeal- the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court concerning the review of the judgments and decisions of judges removed from office pursuant to the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011-the effect of a pending application to review the decision to remove a judge from office, before the Magistrates and Judges Vetting Board, on the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to review the decisions and judgments of a judge who has been removed from office

Held:

1. Section 14 of the Supreme Court Act, 2011 provides for the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to review the judgments and decisions of any judge removed from office pursuant to the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011. However, the decisions of the Vetting Board are subject to review pursuant to section 2(1) of the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011.

2. In the circumstances, it was imperative that there was no pre-emption or prejudice of the fair and just consideration of the Review application by the Vetting Board. The Vetting Board is an Independent Tribunal and it should be allowed to conduct its functions/duties without being interfered with unless the matter is expressly or directly brought to the courts subject of course to the question of jurisdiction.

3. In view of the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and as a matter of natural justice, there should be no interference with the rights of the two judges in respect of the pending review proceedings before the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board.

Matter Stood Over Generally

Cases

None referred to

Statutes

East Africa;

1. Constitution of Kenya, 2010 article 141(b) – (Interpreted)

2. Supreme Court Act, 2011 (Act No 7 of 2011) section 14(3)(a)(b) – (Interpreted)

3. Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011 (Act No 2 of 2011) section 21(1); 22(3) – (Interpreted)

Advocates

None mentioned

Swahili Summary:

Mamlaka ya Mahakama ya Juu zaidi katika 14 1(b) ya Kifungu cha Sheria cha Mahakama ya Juu Zaidi.

Na Njeri Githang’a

Masuala:

Kujua kama Mahakama ya Juu Zaidi ingeweza kuweka kando uamuzi wa Mahakama ya Rufaa katika Nambari ya Rufaa ya Kiraia 108 ya 2009 ambapo uamuzi na amri ambayo ingewekwa kando ilitolewa na majaji 2 ambao walikuwa wameondolewa kutoka ofisi kwa mujibu wa Kifungu cha Sheria cha Uchunguzi wa Majaji na Mahakimu wa 2011 na uamuzi ulikuwa msingi wa kutolewa kwao.

Uamuzi:

Ilikuwa lazima kwamba kusingekuwa kutajwa kwa mapema au ubaguzi wa kutiliwa maanani kusikopendelea na kwa haki kwa ombi la Uhakiki na Kamati ya Uchunguzi. Kamati ya Uchunguzi ilikuwa Tume Huru na lazima ingeruhusiwa kufanya kazi/wajibu bila ya kuingiliwa kati isipokuwa tu kama suala husika lilitiwa moja kwa moja katika hiyo mahakama likichunguza swali la mamlaka.

Matoleo ya Katiba na kanuni za haki ya kimaumbile ilihitaji kwamba kusikuwe na kuingilia kati kokote au kuzuiliwa kwa haki wa Majaji wawili kwa mujibu wa taratibu za uhakiki wa zilizokuwa bado zinasubiriwa katika Kifungu cha Sheria cha Uchunguzi.

Utaratibu wa ziada katika Kesi kusubiri kuhitimishwa kwa mchakato wa Uhakiki mbele ya Kamati ya Uhakiki kwa mujibu wa Majaji wawili.

History County:

Nairobi

Case Outcome:

Matter stood over generally awaiting the conclusion of Review process before the Vetting Board

Disclaimer:

The information contained in the above segment is not part of the judicial opinion delivered by the Court. The metadata has been prepared by Kenya Law as a guide in understanding the subject of the judicial opinion. Kenya Law makes no warranties as to the comprehensiveness or accuracy of the information

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

PETITION 6 OF 2012

MENGINYA SALIM MURGANI................................................APPELLANT

VERSUS

KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY........................................RESPONDENT

(

Being a Petition for Review of the Judgment and Order of the Court of Appeal of Kenya (Omolo, Waki and Nyamu JJA)

in the

Civil Appeal No. 108 of 2009

delivered on 16

th

July 2010,

arising from the

judgment and

decree

of the

High Court of Kenya

at Nairobi, Ojwang J, in the

Civil Case 1139 of 2002

delivered on 22

nd

September 2008)

DIRECTION/RULING

In this Petition dated 18

th

June, 2012 the Petitioner seeks an order:-

“To set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Civil Appeal No. 108 of 2009 in its entirety and instead thereof reinstate the Judgment of the High Court in the HCCC NO. 1139 OF 2002 delivered on 22

nd

September 2008”

The Petition is brought under the provisions of Article 14 1(b).Section 14 of the Supreme Court Act 2011 provides as follows:-

“(

1)

To ensure that the ends of justice are met, the Supreme Court shall, within twelve months of the commencement of this Act, either on its own motion or on the application of any person, review the judgment and decisions of any judge-

(a)

Removed from office on account of a recommendation by a tribunal appointed by the President, whether before or after the commencement of this act; or No.2 of 2011

(b)

Removed from office pursuant to the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011 or

(c)

Who resigns or opts to retire, whether before or after the commencement of the Act, in consequence of a complaint of misconduct or misbehavior.”

On the basis of Subsection (2) thereof, to qualify for review under subsection (1) the Judgment or decision shall have been the

basis

of the removal, resignation or retirement of, or complaint against, the judgment.

In this Petition, the Petitioner contends inter alia that:-

“(15)

On 15

th

December 2011, your petitioner herein lodged a complaint with the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board against Hon. Justice Riaga Omolo, Hon. Justice Joseph Nyamu and Hon. Justice Philip Waki relating to their conduct in Civil Appeal No. 108 of 2009.

(16)

On 25

th

April 2012, the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board handed down its report and determination in which it determined that Hon. Justice Riaga Omolo and Hon. Justice Joseph Nyamu were unsuitable to continue serving as Judges in the judiciary.Specifically at page 11 paragraph 4 of the report (page 112 of the Record) the Board said follows

“Another complaint alleged inconsistency in the manner in which the judge dealt with two separate cases involving employment rights, an inconsistency, it was said, that could be explained only by unprincipled pro-employer bias.The Board was not persuaded that the two cases could be reconciled in the manner argued for by the judge; and could appreciate why employees could feel that they could not rely on the courts for fair and consistent treatment.It was also disputed by the judge’s apparent lack of capacity for introspection and objective analysis in the matter.”

Your Petitioner asserts that this passage refers specifically to his complaint against Hon. Mr. Justice Riaga Omolo and Hon. Justice Nyamu and was one of the reasons for their removal from office.”

The Supreme Court in exercise of its powers under this special jurisdiction in Article 14 is required to:-

“(3) (a) Conduct a preliminary enquiry to determine the

admissibility of the matter; and

(b)

Have all the necessary powers to determine the review under this section, including calling for evidence.”

As a result, the court fixed this matter for directions on 3

rd

July, 2012.In the course of submissions, the court inquired as to the implications of the fact that the said Honourable Justices of Appeal, Hon. Justice Riaga Omolo and Hon. Justice Nyamu had applied for review of the decisions of theVetting Board under the provisions of Section 22 (1) of The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board Act which provides as follows:-

“(1)

A judge or magistrate who has undergone the vetting process and dissatisfied with the determination of the Board may request for a review by the same panel within seven days of being informed of the final determination under section 21(1)”

It was not in dispute that, indeed, the said Honoruable Judges had filed applications for review and the Board is yet to make or pronounce its decisions.

The court heard brief submissions on the issue.This court is of the view that even before the conclusion of a preliminary enquiry to determine the admissibility of this petition for hearing, the question or implications of the pending applications for Review before the Vetting Board is a matter that must be resolved at the outset.

Under the provisions of Section 22 (3) of the Act, the decision of the Vetting Board on the review application is said to be final.It provides:-

“(3) The decision by the Board under this section

shall be final”

As a result of it, it would appear at this stage that the Judges may have no recourse to the Courts if their applications are rejected.As stated, however, this is only a prima facie perception as that question may perhaps be contested in the future, we do not know.

In the circumstances therefore it is imperative that there is no pre-emption or prejudice of the fair and just consideration of the Review application by the Vetting Board.The Vetting Board is an Independent Tribunal and it should be allowed to conduct its functions/duties without being interfered with unless the matter is expressly or directly brought to the courts subject of course to the question of jurisdiction. Of greater importance is that and this in our view, that there should be no interference or fetter of the rights of the two Judges in respect of the pending review proceedings under the Vetting Act.Our view is underpinned by the provisions of the Constitution and principles of Natural Justice.

If the review of process is the only available appellate process, as suggested by the Act, then the more reason that the Vetting Board’s deliberations are not interfered with or prejudiced by setting down this Petition for hearing or otherwise.

We hold that it is premature to give any directions towards the hearing of the Petition in the circumstances.We therefore order that any further proceeding in the Petition awaits the conclusion of Review process before the Vetting Board in respect of the two Honourable Judges.The matter is stood over generally.Costs shall be in the Petition.Orders accordingly.

DATED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 5

TH

DAY OF JULY 2012

P.K. TUNOI

M.K. IBRAHIM

JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT

JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT

I certify that this is

a true copy of the original

___________________

Registrar Supreme Court