Vexatious Proceedings Act

Cap. 41

This is the latest version of this Act.
Citation
Cap. 41
Date
Language
English
Type
Act
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LAWS OF KENYA

VEXATIOUS PROCEEDINGS ACT

CAP. 41

  • Assented to on 14 March 1958
  • Commenced on 20 March 1958
  1. [Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous)(Amendments)(No. 2) Act, 1979 (Act No. 18 of 1979) on 7 September 1979]
  2. [Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act No. 19 of 2023) on 11 December 2023]
An Act of Parliament to prevent abuse of the process of the High Court and other courts by the institution of vexatious legal proceedings

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Vexatious Proceedings Act.

2. Power to make orders

(1)If, on an application made by the Attorney-General under this section, the High Court is satisfied that any person has habitually and persistently and without any reasonable ground instituted vexatious proceedings, whether civil or criminal, and whether in the High Court or in any subordinate court, and whether against the same person or against different persons, the Court may, after hearing that person or giving him an opportunity of being heard, make an order declaring such person to be a vexatious litigant.
(2)If the person against whom an order is sought under this section is unable on account of poverty to retain an advocate, the High Court shall assign an advocate to him in respect of such application.
(3)A copy of any order made under this section shall be published in the Gazette.

3. Restraint of civil proceedings

No suit shall, except with leave of the High Court or of a judge thereof, be instituted by or on behalf of a vexatious litigant in any court, and any suit instituted by him in any court before the making of an order under section 2(1) of this Act shall not be continued by him without such leave; and such leave shall not be given unless the Court or the judge is satisfied that the suit is not an abuse of the process of the court and that there is a prima facie ground for the suit.[Act No. 18 of 1979, Sch.]

4. Restraint of criminal proceedings

No criminal proceedings shall, except with the written consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, be instituted by a vexatious litigant in any court.[Act No. 19 of 2023, Sch.]
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History of this document

11 December 2023 this version
07 September 1979
Read this version
20 March 1958
Commenced
14 March 1958
Assented to

Cited documents 0

Documents citing this one 14

Judgment 12
1. Kihingo Village (Waridi Gardens) Management Limited v Attorney General & 2 others (Judicial Review 169 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 26714 (KLR) (Judicial Review) (20 December 2023) (Ruling) 1 citation
2. New Mega Africa Limited v Absa Bank Kenya PLC; Wekesa (Applicant) (Civil Case E068 of 2022) [2024] KEHC 1788 (KLR) (26 February 2024) (Ruling) 1 citation
3. Ondiek v Deputy Registrar, High Court of Kenya at Eldoret & another (Miscellaneous Civil Application E113 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 5744 (KLR) (15 May 2024) (Ruling) 1 citation
4. Wepukhulu t/a Gati Cleaning Agency Limited v Oduor (Civil Appeal 82 of 2019) [2024] KEHC 5737 (KLR) (14 May 2024) (Judgment) 1 citation
5. Attorney General v Owako; Otieno, Yogo, Ojuro & Co Advocates & 6 others (Interested Parties) (Miscellaneous Civil Suit E163 of 2021) [2023] KEHC 19858 (KLR) (24 May 2023) (Judgment)
6. Busia Sugar Industry Limited v Agriculture and Food Authority & 2 others (Petition 3 of 2017) [2024] KEHC 1099 (KLR) (12 February 2024) (Ruling)
7. Jonathan Wepukhulu t/a Gati Cleaning Agency Limited v Oduor & another (Civil Appeal 82 of 2019) [2023] KEHC 18182 (KLR) (11 May 2023) (Ruling)
8. Juja Coffee Exporters Limited & 3 others v Bank of Africa Limited & 6 others (Environment & Land Case E049 of 2023) [2024] KEELC 5388 (KLR) (24 July 2024) (Ruling)
9. Kazungu (Suing as a Legal Representative of the Estate of Adam Kazungu Nzamba-Deceased) & another v National Land Commission & 7 others; Masika & 5 others (Interested Parties) (Constitutional Petition E028 of 2022) [2023] KEELC 22531 (KLR) (19 December 2023) (Ruling)
10. Kihingo Village (Waridi Gardens) Management Limited v Attorney General & 2 others (Judicial Review E033 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 17923 (KLR) (Judicial Review) (24 May 2023) (Judgment)
Legal Notice 2
1. The Statutory Instruments (Exemption from Expiry) Regulations 1 citation
2. The Statutory Instruments (Exemption from Expiry) Regulations