Application for stay of execution and payment of decretal sum in installments arising from dismissal of Election Petition (Bomachoge Chache Constituency)

4. The applicant informs the court that he intends to use part of the loan to repay the decretal sum of Kshs. 3,700,000/= in a lump sum and settle the balance in monthly installments of Kshs. 100,000/=. He states that at the moment, he has no source of income apart from his pension which he uses to sustain himself and his children. He is of the view that no loss or damage will be occasioned to the respondent who is the current Member of Parliament for Bomachoge Chache Constituency if the application is allowed. 5. The 3rd respondent is opposed to the application. He swore an affidavit on 8 th October 2020 contending that the application was only calculated to deny him the fruits of his judgment. He states that since the Certificate of Taxation was issued, the applicant has made no move to settle the balance of the decretal sum and it is clear that he is unwilling to settle the amount which stood at Kshs. 4,477,000/= inclusive of interest. He avers that the proclamation notices show that the respondent has a lot of property and no cogent reason has been given for his failure to pay the decretal sum. 6. The proposal for settlement of the decretal amount by way of monthly installments of Kshs. 100,000/= is rejected by the respondent who states that such a mode of payment would not be prompt, fair and cost effective administration of justice as it would take over 4 years for the entire amount to be paid. 7. The respondent’s counsel opted to rely on the replying affidavit sworn on 8 th October 2020 as his arguments against the application while the applicant’s learned counsel filed written submissions in support of the application. 8. The application for payment of the decretal sum in installments is made pursuant to Order 21 Rule 12(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules which provides: 12(2) After passing of any such decree, the court may on the application of the judgment debtor and with the consent of the decreeholder or without the consent of the decree-holder for sufficient cause shown, order that the payment of the amount decreed be postponed or be made by installments on such terms as to the payment of interest, the attachment of the property of the judgmentdebtor or the taking of security from him, or otherwise, as it thinks fit. 9. The applicant relied on the case of Freight Forwarders Ltd v Elsek & Elsek (K) LTD Civil Case 56 of 2012 [2012] eKLR where the court cited with approval the cases of Keshavji Jethabhai & Bros Ltd vs Saleh Abdulla [1959] EA (J) 260 and A. Rajabali Alidina vs Rehmatulla Alidina & Anor [1961] EA 565 on the conditions to be met for the court to allow an application for payment of the decretal sum in installments. 10. In Keshavji Jethabhai & Bros Ltd vs Saleh Abdulla [1959] EA (J) 260 the court held: that a. whilst creditors rights must be considered, each case must be considered on its own merits and discretion exercised accordingly b. the mere inability of a debtor to pay in full at once is not a sufficient reason for exercise of the discretion c. the debtor should be required to show his bona fides by arranging prompt payment of a fair proportion d. Hardship of the debtor might be a factor, but it is a question in each case whether some indulgence can fairly be given to the debtor without prejudicing the creditor. 11. In A. Rajabali Alidina vs Rehmatulla Alidina & Anor [1961] EA 565 it was held: the court can consider the circumstances in which the debt was incurred; the conduct of the debtor; his financial position; and his bona fides. 12. The decree against the applicant in this case arose from the dismissal of his Election Petition with costs to the respondents. The applicant and the 3rd respondent agreed at a sum of Kshs. 4,200,000/= in costs. They also agreed that the sum of Kshs. 500,000/= which had been deposited in court as security would be released to the 3 rd respondent to offset part of the costs. A decree was entered to that effect on 2 nd April 2019. 13. The applicant claims that he is not in a good financial position to clear the decretal sum in a lump sum as he is a pensioner getting a sum of Kshs. 38,983/= a month. He also claims that a building he was constructing using his retirement benefits and a loan from Co-operative Bank collapsed; erasing his investment and his expectations of an income for his upkeep. 14. The applicant’s counsel submits that the applicant has demonstrated his hardship in raising a lump sum to service the debt. He also argues that the applicant has shown good faith by willingly surrendering the security of Kshs. 500,000/= to the respondent. He submits that the applicant has no other source of income since his financial position was gravely affected by the collapse of his building which he had invested heavily in. 15. The foregoing authorities hold that the mere inability of a debtor to pay in full at once is not sufficient reason to grant an application to settle the decretal amount in installments. In this case, I am not persuaded that the applicant has been acting in good faith. From when the decree was passed on 2nd April 2019, the respondent has not made any payments towards the settlement of the amount which stood at Kshs. 3,700,000 at the time. The decretal sum continues to accrue interest by the day. 16. The applicant claims that he will pay a part of the debt by redirecting a loan he has been negotiating with his bank to refinance the reconstruction of his building. That proposition is not only fraudulent but is also vague and unsupported and has not been explicitly sought in

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the instant application. It is not clear what amount the applicant intends to pay as a lump sum and when. His proposal to pay a sum of Kshs. 100,000/= is just as uncertain as the respondent is not forthright on how he plans to raise the installments given his track record and his claim that his sole income is a pension. 17. In the circumstances, the 3rd respondent worry that he may not enjoy the fruits of his judgment, if the application is granted is warranted. If the application is allowed as it is, this matter will, at the very least, take 3 years to be finalized. That would go against the overriding principles which call for expeditious and timely disposal of suits. I therefore reject the applicant’s proposal. 18. For the reasons already given, the application amended on 22 nd September 2020 is hereby dismissed with no orders as to costs. Dated, signed and delivered at Kisii this 16th day of December, 2020. A. K. NDUNG'U JUDGE

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