Mitingi & 7 others v Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited & another (Environment and Land Case E007 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 3438 (KLR)
The bottom line
#A Kenyan court reinstated a dismissed land case because a power outage, not any lawyer's fault, caused the missed virtual hearing.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.Whether there are circumstances that permit the court to exercise its discretion to set aside its order dismissing the application dated 28th January 2026 for want of attendance on the part of counsel for the plaintiffs
Key legal issues
#Whether non-attendance occasioned by a power outage justifies setting aside an order of dismissal for want of attendance
Yes. The court took judicial notice of regular power loss and found no evidence that counsel was at fault, so the dismissal had to be set aside ex debito justitiae and the earlier application and interim orders reinstated.
Counsel deposed that a power outage in Malindi caused him to be disconnected from the virtual courtroom and that by the time he re-logged in, the application had been dismissed. The court took judicial notice that power loss has been happening regularly. The defendants produced no evidence controverting the outage. The application seeking reinstatement was filed the same day as the dismissal, corroborating counsel's account. Since neither party was at fault, blame could not be placed on counsel or his clients, and the effectiveness of the earlier interim orders was relegated to a back seat.
Legal principles established
#- Where none of the parties or their counsel has been proved liable for wrongdoing causing non-attendance, a dismissal order should be set aside as of right (ex debito justitiae).
Court orders
#- 1.Orders made on 18th February 2026 dismissing the Plaintiffs' application dated 28th January 2026 set aside
- 2.The Plaintiffs' application dated 28th January 2026 together with the interim orders of 30th January 2026 reinstated for hearing
- 3.Costs of the application be in the cause
- 4.Matter to be mentioned on 27th May 2026 for further directions as to hearing of the application dated 28th January 2026
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Inherent discretion of the Environment and Land Court to set aside its own dismissal orders
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.
Where none of the parties or their counsel have been proved to be liable for any wrongdoing for non-attendance as in the present case, orders of dismissal sought ought to be granted ex debito justitiae.
The upshot of the foregoing is that this finds that the application dated 18th February 2026 has merit and I therefore grant prayer nos 3, 4 and 5 as sought in the application.
This matter shall be mentioned on 27th May 2026 for further directions as to hearing of the application dated 28th January 2026.
Issues in the judgment
#Judgment refers inconsistently to the date of the application whose dismissal is being set aside - both 28th and 30th/24th January dates appear, and supporting grounds say it was 'scheduled for inter parte hearing' on 18th February but paragraph 3 dates the replying affidavit as 6th February 2026, before the dismissal it responds to
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Mitingi & 7 others v Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited & another (Environment and Land Case E007 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 3438 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). Not stated in the judgment. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/3438/eng@2026-05-19
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.