Wambua v Maweu (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E012 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 2871 (KLR)
The bottom line
#Kenya's Environment and Land Court allowed an elderly litigant extra time to challenge taxed costs, and paused their collection until the challenge is heard.
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 Applicant has demonstrated merit in the application for enlargement of time for the filing of a reference against the decree on costs
- 2.Whether the Applicant is entitled to stay of execution of the decree on costs
Key legal issues
#Enlargement of time to file a reference against assessment of costs
The delay of about four months was reasonably excusable given the Applicant's advanced age, so extension of time was granted
The court applied the Leo Sila Mutiso and Salat principles on extension of time: length of and reason for delay, chances of success, and prejudice. The certificate of costs was issued on 17th July 2024 and the application filed on 15th November 2024. The Applicant explained the delay by his old age which hindered issuing instructions to his advocates. The court found the explanation reasonably excusable and entitled him to enlargement of time.
Stay of execution of the certificate of costs
Stay of execution of the certificate of costs was granted pending the intended reference, the court having discretion to stay execution of taxed costs
Relying on Labh Singh Harman Singh Ltd and Lucy Wanjiru Kabutha, the court confirmed that taxation of costs is part of the execution process and the power to stay execution of taxed costs is discretionary, to be exercised judiciously and in the interest of justice. Since the reference was permitted, stay pending its determination was appropriate, with a default clause allowing execution if no reference is filed.
Legal principles established
#- The decision whether or not to extend time is discretionary, considering length of and reason for delay, chances of success and prejudice to the respondent
- Taxation of costs is part of the execution process and the court has power to order stay of execution of taxed costs
Court orders
#- 1.An order for enlargement of time granted to the Applicant to file and serve a Reference against the certificate of costs dated 17th July, 2024 within 21 days
- 2.An order for stay of execution of the certificate of costs dated 17th July, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the intended reference
- 3.In default, execution of the certificate of costs to issue without recourse to this court
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Sections 1, 1A, 3A, 27 and 95 of the Civil Procedure Act and Order 50 Rule 5 of the Civil Procedure Rules
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.
An order for enlargement of time be and is hereby granted in favour of the Applicant to file and serve a Reference against the certificate of costs dated 17th July, 2024 issued in Makueni MCELC No. E024 of 2023 Alphonse Ngungi Wambua v Cosmas Maweu Maundu pursuant to the decree dated 30th April, 2024 within 21 days hereof.
An order for stay of execution of the certificate of costs dated 17th July, 2024 issued in Makueni MCELC No. E024 of 2023 Alphonse Ngungi Wambua v Cosmas Maweu Maundu pursuant to the decree dated 30th April, 2024 is hereby issued pending the hearing and determination of the intended reference in (1) above.
In default of the above orders, execution of the certificate of costs dated 17th July, 2024 issued in Makueni MCELC No. E024 of 2023 Alphonse Ngungi Wambua v Cosmas Maweu Maundu to issue without recourse to this court.
The Applicant attributed the delay in filing of the reference to their old age which hindered issuance of instructions to his Advocates. The Applicant's explanation for the delay in filing the reference is reasonably excusable.
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Wambua v Maweu (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E012 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 2871 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2025). Chamber Summons dated 14th November, 2024. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2025/2871/eng@2025-03-27
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.