Kcb Bank Kenya Limited v Oceanic Communication Limited & 2 others

facility was to be serviced in monthly installment of Kenya Shillings twenty nine thousand six hundred and ninety three (Kshs29,693/=) over a period of sixty months. 4. The plaintiff avers that the 2nd and 3rd defendant executed a personal guarantee and indemnity for Kenya Shillings Thirty-Three Million (Kshs.33,000,000/-) for the first facility and Kenya Shillings Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand (Kshs.5,700,000/-) for the second facility. The personal guarantee and indemnity were for each individual director whereby they made an undertaking that in the event of a default by the 1st defendant they would make full payment of the losses, damages and expenses of such default as per the guarantee. 5. The facilities were further secured by a letter of assignment from the 1st defendant to Safaricom undertaking that the proceeds and or commission shall be remitted through an account held by the 1st defendant with the plaintiff for the duration of the facility and a chattel over the letters of assignment to Safaricom Limited was registered in compliance with the Moveable Property Security Rights Act. 6. The plaintiff avers that it honoured and fulfilled its obligations under the Murabaha Agreement. However, the 1st defendant in total breach of the agreement had refused failed and or neglected to service the facilities as and when they become due in total breach of the agreement therefore, causing financial loss and suffering to the plaintiff. 7. The plaintiff thus seeks the following reliefs: a. A declaration that the 1st defendant has breached the agreement through its failure to service the said facility under the Murahaba Agreement; b. A declaration that the 2nd and 3rd defendants have breached the terms of the guarantee by failing to pay the entire amount owed to the plaintiff by the 1st defendant under the Murahaba Agreement despite being notified of the default by the 1st defendant for breach of the said agreement; c. An order directing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants jointly and severally to pay to the plaintiff a sum of Kenya Shillings forty-seven million two hundred and nine thousand six hundred and forty-one (Kshs. 47,703,203.20) being the outstanding debt under the facility issued to the defendants as at 6th June 2023; d. Costs of the suit; e. Interest on costs and damages from the date of filing until the date of payments in full; 8. The court was satisfied that in spite of proper service of the pleadings and summons to enter appearance the defendants, failed to enter appearance and to file their statement of defence. Consequently, an interlocutory judgment was entered in terms of prayer (c) of the plaint against those defendants. The matter then proceeded for formal proof hearing. 9. This, court now has a duty to establish if the plaintiff through its evidence has established a prima facie case that warrants the grant of orders sought. 10. The plaintiff case was supported by the testimony of Ferdinand Kalafweri PW1, the plaintiff’s credit recovery manager. He adopted his witness statement dated 1st August 2023 together with the plaintiff’s list and bundle of documents dated 30th August 2023. His evidence mirrored what is contained in the plaint as to the terms of the Murahaba financing agreements dated 3rd September 2021 and 4th April 2022. Copies of the agreements were produced as plaintiff’s exhibit 1 and 2. He also referred to the https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/12273/eng@2025-08-27 2

page 2 of 6

personal guarantees and indemnity executed by the 2nd and 3rd defendant’s directors as part of the securities which were produced as plaintiff’s exhibit 3. 11. PW1 also adduced and relied upon an extract of the plaintiff’s minutes of the Board meeting held on 7th June 2023 in relation to the loan facility which were produced as plaintiff’s exhibit 4. Further, it was the plaintiff’s testimony that the 1st defendant ratified the facility and securities in its board resolution. The 1st defendant’s board of director’s resolution sanctioning security and facility was produced and marked as plaintiff’s exhibit no 5, a copy of KCB SAHL Mpesa facility application form exhibit 6 and the letter of assignment from the 1st defendant to Safaricom Limited undertaking that the proceeds and/or commission be remitted in an account held by the 1st defendant with the plaintiff for the duration of the facility exhibit 7. A copy of letter from Safaricom confirming the assignment of proceeds to the plaintiff exhibit 8. Also produced as evidence was a copy of the demand letter dated 24th March and 10th July 2023 as exhibit 9 and 10 respectively. 12. PW1 testified that the plaintiff honored its obligations by furnishing the facility to the 1st defendant to run its business however, the 1st defendant has been in total breach of the agreement causing it financial loss and suffering. It pointed out that the 1st defendant periodically serviced the facility until it deliberately stopped channeling its entire Safaricom dealership commission to it contrary to the facility agreement. 13. At the close of hearing, the plaintiff filed submissions dated 4th November 2024. It submitted that the 1st defendant had failed to comply with the terms of the letter of offer and the Murahaba facility agreements which the parties consensually entered into. 14. The plaintiff sets out two issues for determination namely whether the 1st defendant has failed to comply with the terms of the letter of offer and Murabaha facility agreement and whether the loan advanced to the 1st defendant on various dates was guaranteed by the 2nd and 3rd defendant and if so, whether the plaintiff is entitled to indemnity from the 2nd and 3rd defendants. 15. It was submitted that there was no dispute regarding the existence and validity of the Murabaha Facility agreements between the plaintiff and the 1st defendant. That given the contractual nature of the agreements, the parties were bound by the terms of their contract. To support this assertion the plaintiff relied on the case of National Bank of Kenya limited vs Pipeplastic Samkolit (k) Limited and Another NRB CA Civil Appeal No 95 of 1999(2001)eKLR; Puis Kimaiyo Langat v Co-operative Bank Kenya Limited (2017)eKLR and Housing Finance Co of Kenya Limited v Gilbert Kibe Njuguna, Nairobi High Court Civil Case Number 1601 of 1999. They urged the court to find that the letter of offer, Murabaha Agreement and Personal indemnity are in the nature of contractual agreement and the parties are bound by them. 16. They urged that the defendants are in total breach of the Murabaha agreements, since they have refused, failed and or neglected to service the aforementioned facility as and when it became due thereby occasioning untold financial loss and suffering to the plaintiff. 17. They relied on section 176 of the Evidence Act to urge that the statement of account provided is prima facie a true reflection of the defendants debt position. The statement indicated that the defendant loan account is in arrears with a debit balance of kshs 47,703,203.20 - as at 6th June 2023. 18. As to whether the loan was guaranteed by the 2nd and 3rd defendant, and whether the plaintiff is entitled to indemnity it was submitted that; the 2nd and 3rd defendant executed personal guarantees, committing to cover any losses incurred by the plaintiff due to the 1st defendant’s default. That the guarantee provided the plaintiff with the right to seek indemnity from the guarantor should the 1st defendant https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/12273/eng@2025-08-27 3

page 3 of 6

fail to fulfil its repayment obligations. That the guarantee explicitly states that the defendant liability extends to all amounts due, thereby reinforcing the legal basis for the plaintiff claim against them. To support this argument reference was made to the case of Amandari Limited & 2 others v Nic Bank Limited (2000) eKLR. 19. It urged that a contract of guarantee becomes enforceable once the principal debtor defaults in making payment as per the contract and the creditor has notified the guarantor of the default. Reference was made to the case of Rose Chepkirui Mibei v Jared Mokua Nyariki & 2 Others eKLR. 20. Since the defendants were in breach, the plaintiff submitted that the directors were personally liable under the indemnity of guarantee and the law supports the lender’s right to recover the outstanding loan by compelling the directors to pay. They urged the court to grant the reliefs sought. Analysis and Determination 21. Based on the pleadings, the plaintiff’s evidence and submissions the issues that arise for determination is as set out by the plaintiff namely whether the 1st defendant has failed to comply with the terms of the letter of offer and Murabaha facility agreement and whether the loan advanced to the 1st defendant was guaranteed by the 2nd and 3rd defendants and if so, whether the plaintiff is entitled to indemnity from the defendants. 22. It is not in dispute that the parties entered into a Murahaba financing agreement. The plaintiff through its witness PW1 the credit recovery manager testified to that effect and produced in evidence the agreements marked as plaintiff exhibit 1 and 2. According to the agreement, the plaintiff financed the 1st defendant to purchase Safaricom products in the sum of Kshs.54,607,380/= and Kshs.7,781,580.00 the first and second facility respectively. 23. This Court has carefully examined the Letter of Offer and the Murabaha Agreement, which together constitute the contractual relationship between the parties. The Letter of Offer explicitly states that its terms and conditions, along with those contained in the Murabaha Agreement, must be read together. The documents bear the signatures of the duly authorized signatories of both the Plaintiff and the 1st Defendant, including the signature of the 2nd and 3rd Defendant on the acceptance page. This demonstrates a clear meeting of the minds and a voluntary acceptance of the terms. 24. Further, in line with this agreement, the 2nd defendants entered into a guarantee and indemnity agreement marked as plaintiff exhibit 3. Notably the 3rd defendant did not execute the guarantee. I therefore find that no contract was directly entered between the plaintiff and the 3rd defendant as directors or in his personal capacity. 25. The liability of the guarantor was limited to the principal sum of Kenya Shillings Thirty Three Million (Kshs.33,000,000/-) for the first facility and Kenya Shillings Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand (Kshs.5,700,000/-) for the second facility. The above documents adduced in evidence indeed confirm that the plaintiff entered into a legally binding agreement with the 1st defendant. It is also confirmed that by a guarantee and indemnity agreement, only the 2nd defendant guaranteed the facility in his personal capacity as a guarantor. I therefore find that indeed there was a legally binding contract between the plaintiff and the 1st defendant on the one part as well as the plaintiff and the 2nd defendant on the other part. No evidence has been provided to show that the 3rd defendant executed the guarantee documents. 26. As to whether there was a breach by the 1st defendant this court has considered the events as presented by the Plaintiff. The agreement stipulated payments by monthly instalments and a condition precedent https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/12273/eng@2025-08-27 4

page 4 of 6

was that the 1st Defendant would channel its entire Safaricom dealership commissions to the Plaintiff's account. 27. The plaintiff has averred that the 1st defendant subsequently refused, failed, and/or neglected to service the facility and deliberately stopped channeling its entire Safaricom dealership commission through the account held by the plaintiff. The failure to adhere to the revised terms, as agreed is a fundamental breach of the agreement. This breach is further evidenced by the plaintiff having to issue formal demand letters on 24th March 2023 and 10th July 2023. In the absence of any defence or contradictory evidence, the Plaintiff has established a clear case of breach of contract by the 1st Defendant. The Court finds that the Plaintiff proved its case to the required standard. 28. As to the validity of the 2nd defendant guarantee, this court notes that the guarantee and indemnity forms provided in evidence as exhibit no 3 confirms that only the 2nd Defendant, executed a personal guarantee and indemnity in favour of the Plaintiff. This document creates a secondary obligation on his part to make good any losses or damages resulting from the 1st Defendant's default. The Plaintiff has correctly submitted that this guarantee constitutes a continuing security, thus the 2nd Defendant is liable to make good any outstanding sums by the 1st defendant. 29. The Court makes reference to the Court of Appeal case in Peter Munga v African Seed Investment Fund LLC, HC ML IC No. 2 of 2016 [2017] eKLR where it was held that a secured creditor with multiple remedies is entitled to elect which one to enforce, at what time, and in what order. The mere existence of another security, such as the chattel over the letter of assignment in this case, does not compel the creditor to first seek its enforcement before pursuing the guarantor. 30. Furthermore, the language of the contract itself strengthens the plaintiff's position. The document is titled Personal Guarantee and Indemnity. The inclusion of the term "indemnity" creates a primary obligation, allowing the creditor to pursue the guarantor independent of any action against the principal debtor. The primary condition for the 2nd Defendant's liability is the default by the 1st Defendant which has since been proved. 31. It is noted that the personal guarantee by the 2nd Defendant was for "Kshs.37,000,000.00/= for each director. While the Plaintiff's Plaint prays for judgment against the 2nd Defendant for the full outstanding amount of over Kshs.45 million, the liability of a guarantor is legally capped by the value of the guarantee they signed. Therefore, while the 2nd Defendant is indeed liable jointly and severally with the 1st Defendant, her liability is limited to the guaranteed amount and it cannot exceed the limit stipulated in the Personal Guarantee and Indemnity agreement. This limitation ensures that liability is consistent with the precise terms of the contract. 32. The Plaintiff relied on Section 176 of the Evidence Act, which makes a statement of account prima facie evidence to prove its debt. The Court will place more weight on the figure presented in the prayer, which is the specific amount the Plaintiff is seeking from this Court and which is also corroborated by the Witness Statement. Thus, the Court finds that the quantum of the debt has been sufficiently proven, and judgment should be entered for the amount specified in the prayer. 33. Based on the foregoing analysis, the court finds that the plaintiff has establish a prima facie case against the defendants. Further the evidence being uncontroverted, demonstrates that a valid and binding contract existed between the parties, which was subsequently breached by the 1st Defendant. The 2nd Defendant is also liable for the breach by virtue of the Personal Guarantee and Indemnity he executed. 34. The upshot of the above is that, this Court enters judgment in favour of the Plaintiff as follows; https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/12273/eng@2025-08-27 5

page 5 of 6

a. A Declaration is hereby issued that the 1st Defendant has breached the Murabaha Financing Agreement dated 3rd September 2021 and 4th April 2022. b. A Declaration is hereby issued that the 2nd Defendant has breached the Personal Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement by failing to pay the entire amount owed by the 1st Defendant following the default by the 1st Defendant. c. An Order is hereby issued directing the 1st and 2nd Defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the Plaintiff the sum of Kenya Shillings Forty-Seven Million Seven Hundred and Thee Thousand Two Hundred and Three Eight Hundred Thousand and Two (Kshs. 47,703,203.20/=), which represents the outstanding debt under the facility as at 6th June 2023. d. The liability of the 2nd Defendant under this judgment is hereby capped at Kenya Shillings Thirty-threen Million (Kshs.33,000,000.00/=) for the first facility and Kenya shillings Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand (Kshs.5,700,000/-) as per the second facility and the terms of her Personal Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement. e. The 1st and 2nd Defendants shall pay interest on the judgment sum at the Court rate from the date of filing the suit until payment is made in full. f. The 1st and 2nd Defendants shall bear the costs of the suit. DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT MACHAKOS THIS 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025. RHODA RUTTO JUDGE In the presence of; ………………………………….for Plaintiff …………………………………..for Defendants Peter Court Assistant https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/12273/eng@2025-08-27 6

page 6 of 6