Kimanga v National Transport & Safety Authority (Appeal E044 of 2022) [2023] KETLABT 684 (KLR) (14 August 2023) (Judgment)
Neutral citation:
[2023] KETLABT 684 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
Appeal E044 of 2022
A Kamotho, Chair, Joseph Mcdonald, Maryan Hajir, Waithira Muiruri & James Ngomeli, Members
August 14, 2023
Between
Charles Irungu Kimanga
Appellant
and
National Transport & Safety Authority
Respondent
Judgment
1.The Appellant is a male adult of Identification No: 1333****, a resident of Kirinyaga County and a holder of a driving license issued by the Respondent.
2.The Respondent, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), is a statutory body established under section 3 of the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012 and has the responsibility to: advise and make recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to road transport and safety, implement policies relating to road transport and safety; plan, manage and regulate the road transport system; ensure the provision of safe, reliable, and efficient road transport services and to administer the Traffic Act.
3.The decision of NTSA not to issue the Appellant with a PSV badge citing that his Police Clearance Certificate has an outstanding remark triggered the dispute.
Appellant’s case
4.The Appellant’s case is contained in his Memorandum of Appeal dated 30th November 2022 and was lodged on the same date.
5.The Appellant contends that the Respondent Authority (NTSA), has refused to issue him with a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge license citing that his Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) has outstanding remarks.
6.The Appellant Contends that he was accused and charged with a case of defilement in 2008/2009. However, he was released by the court as the complainant never appeared in court.
7.The Appellant avers that he has experienced challenges in getting his good conduct certificate for the last ten (10) years. He further contends that his current PCC (2022) has an outstanding remark.
8.The Appellant prays that the Tribunal orders NTSA to issue him with a PSV badge without further conditions.
Respondent’s case
9.The Respondent Authority (NTSA), did not have an objection to the Appellant’s Application but required him to furnish them with a copy of the current Police Clearance Certificate to ascertain that the Appellant does not have any other offence apart from the one that was concluded.
10.The Respondent Authority also required the Appellant to furnish them with the ruling and or Judgment of the court to further help them assist him accordingly.
Issues for determination
11.Following the arguments made and evidence adduced by the parties before the tribunal during the trial, the following issues have been extrapolated for determination:a.Whether the Respondent has a right not to grant the Appellant a PSV Badge on grounds that he had a criminal record?b.Whether notwithstanding the remarks on the Appellant’s Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) the Appellants’ application for a PSV Badge should be approved?
Analysis and Determination
a) Whether the Respondent has a right not to grant the Appellant a PSV Badge on grounds that he had a criminal record?
12.In coming up with the determination, the court has to establish the requirements to be met for an applicant to be issued with a PSV badge and whether the appellant in this matter met the prerequisite conditions established in law.
13.Section 6(m) of The National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014 provides for the requirements and expressly states that;
14.From the above legal provision, it is established law that a Certificate of good Conduct is one of the prerequisite conditions that an applicant has to meet to be issued with a PSV badge by the Respondent Authority (NTSA).
15.The Appellant in this case provided a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) that had an outstanding remark to the Respondent Authority. This led to the decision of NTSA not to issue the Appellant with a PSV badge.
16.During the proceedings before this honourable tribunal, efforts to have the Appellant produce any evidence (Court Proceedings, Ruling and or Judgment) of the criminal matter being concluded was an exercise in futility and thus could not warrant any assistance from the Respondent Authority.
17.In the matter of Bwire v Wayo & Sailoki (Civil Appeal 032 of 2021) [2022] KEHC 7 (KLR) It was stated that;
18.The general principle for the burden of proof is that “he who alleges must prove”. The Appellant alleges that the outstanding criminal matter on his current PCC was concluded. However, despite various efforts made by the Respondent no evidence has been adduced to support the fact.
19.The Respondents’ action of denying the Appellant’s application based on his failure to meet the requirements put in place has merit. This is because administrative action can be taken even after criminal actions have. It was up to the Appellant to prove that the criminal matter was concluded to avoid any sort of double jeopardy that might be occasioned on him.
b) Whether notwithstanding the remarks on the Appellant’s Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) the Appellants’ application for a PSV Badge should be approved?
20.We have already established that the law envisages that an applicant requires a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) as one of the requirements to acquire a PSV Badge. The Respondent Authority works in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Information (DCI) to establish the details contained in a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
21.For the Respondent Authority to issue an Applicant with a PSV badge they have to ascertain that they have met all the set requirements in law.
22.The Appellant alleges that he had a defilement case in 2008/2009 and was released since the complainant never showed up in court. However, he did not adduce any evidence to that effect. Therefore, he failed to sufficiently prove that he was indeed released and that the matter was concluded.
23.It is the sole obligation of the Appellant to persuade the Tribunal by adducing sufficient evidence of a certain fact, an obligation that the appellant in this case failed to fulfil.
24.Justice Mativo in the matter of Hellen Wangari Wangechi v Carumera Muthini Gathua [2005] eKLR, stated as follows:
25.In the matter of Stanley Maira Kaguongo v Isaac Kibiru Kahuthia [2022] eKLR it was stated that;
26.The legal basis for burden of proof is provided in Section 107 of the Evidence Act, Cap 80 laws of Kenya. It expressly states as follows;
27.Therefore, the onus is upon the Appellant to adduce cogent and credible evidence to prove the grounds to the “satisfaction of the court”. The Appellant on whom the legal burden of proof lies may or may not adduce sufficient and admissible evidence in proof of any of the allegations in the appeal. On one hand, if no sufficient evidence is adduced to the required standard, then the allegation(s) fail and it all ends there.
28.This Tribunal’s decision is on a case to case basis and in this matter the Appellant has failed to prove two fundamental things; Firstly, that he does not have an outstanding criminal matter and Secondly, that the remarks on his PCC are incorrect. Based on those findings by the Tribunal, it is our considered view that the Appellants has not adduced sufficient evidence to enable the tribunal order NTSA issue him with a PSV badge.
Orders
29.Having considered the facts and the law applicable to this case, the Transport Licensing Appeals Board hereby makes the following orders:1.That this Appeal is dismissed.2.That each party shall bear its own costs.It is so ordered.
DELIVERED AT KIRINYAGA BY THE TRANSPORT LICENSING APPEALS BOARD ON THIS 14TH DAY OF AUGUST 2023.DR. ADRIAN KAMOTHOCHAIRPERSON ………………………JOSEPH MCDONALDMEMBER………………………MARYAN HAJIRMEMBER………………………WAITHIRA MUIRURIMEMBER………………………JAMES NGOMELIMEMBER………………………