Public Authorities Limitation Act

LAWS OF KENYA
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LIMITATION ACT
CAP. 39
Revised and published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer
www.kenyalaw.org

Kenya
Public Authorities Limitation Act
Cap. 39
Legislation as at 31 May 1974
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• NC: Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.
• SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
Share widely and freely.

Public Authorities Limitation Act (Cap. 39)
Contents
1. Short title ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Interpretation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3. Limitation of proceedings ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
4. Tender of amends ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5. Extension of limitation period in case of disability ........................................................................................................................... 2
6. Application of Cap.

y ........................................................................................................................... 2
6. Application of Cap.

22 .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
7. Transitional provisions ................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
8. [Spent] ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
9. [Spent] ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
10. [Spent] ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
11.

................................................................................................................................................ 3
11.

[Spent] ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
SCHEDULE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

.................................................................................................................................................... 3

Public Authorities Limitation Act (Cap. 39) Kenya
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LIMITATION ACT
CAP. 39
Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. LXXVI—No. 21 on 10 May 1974
Assented to on 2 May 1974
Commenced on 1 July 1974 by Public Authorities Limitation Act Commencement
[Amended by Laws of Kenya (Rectification) (No. 4) Order, 1974 (Legal Notice 102 of 1974) on 31 May 1974]
An Act of Parliament to provide for the limitation of proceedings against the Government and a local
authority, and for purposes incidental to and connected with the foregoing
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Public Authorities Limitation Act. 2. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—
“local authority” means a municipal council, county council, town council, urban or area council,
and, in respect of any function delegated to or conferred upon a local council, such local council;
“minor” means a person under eighteen years of age;
“proceedings” means civil proceedings in the High Court or a subordinate court.

uch local council;
“minor” means a person under eighteen years of age;
“proceedings” means civil proceedings in the High Court or a subordinate court.

(2) For the purposes of this Act—
(a) proceedings against the Government includes proceedings against the Attorney-General or
any Government department or any public officer as such;
(b) proceedings against a local authority includes proceedings against any person employed by a
local authority and sued or intended to be sued as such;
(c) a person is under a disability while he is a minor or of unsound mind or is detained in
pursuance of any written law which authorizes the detention of persons suffering from
mental disorder or unsoundness of mind. 3. Limitation of proceedings
(1) No proceedings founded on tort shall be brought against the Government or a local authority after
the end of twelve months from the date on which the cause of action accrued. (2) No proceedings founded on contract shall be brought against the Government or a local authority
after the end of three years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

contract shall be brought against the Government or a local authority
after the end of three years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

(3) Where the defence to any proceedings is that the defendant was at the material time acting in the
course of his employment by the Government or a local authority and the proceedings were brought
after the end of—
(a) twelve months, in the case of proceedings founded on tort; or
(b) three years, in the case of proceedings founded on contract,
from the date on which the cause of action accrued, the court, at any stage of the
proceedings, if satisfied that such defendant was at the material time so acting, shall enter
judgment for that defendant. 1

ourt, at any stage of the
proceedings, if satisfied that such defendant was at the material time so acting, shall enter
judgment for that defendant. 1

Public Authorities Limitation Act (Cap. 39) Kenya
4.

Public Authorities Limitation Act (Cap. 39) Kenya
4.

Tender of amends
(1) In any proceedings founded on tort where damages are claimed against the Government or a local
authority in respect of negligence, or a breach of any duty imposed by or under any written law, or
in respect of any alleged act, neglect or default in the execution or intended performance of any
public duty or authority-
(a) tender of amends before the proceedings were instituted may, in lieu of or in addition to any
other plea, be pleaded;
(b) if the proceedings were instituted after such tender, or are proceeded with by the plaintiff
after he has notice of the payment into court of any money in satisfaction of any cause of
action, and the plaintiff does not recover more than the sum tendered or, in respect of the
cause of action, paid, he shall not recover any costs incurred in the proceedings, or as the
case may be, in respect of the cause of action, after the tender or payment, and the defendant
shall be accordingly entitled to costs, to be taxed as between advocate and client, from the
time of tender or payment;
(c) if, in the opinion of the court, the plaintiff has not given the defendant a sufficient
opportunity to make a tender of amends before the institution of proceedings, the court may
award to the defendant costs to be taxed as between advocate and client;
(d) subject to sections 5 and 6 of this Act, when proceedings have been instituted contrary
to subsection (1) or (2) of section 3 of this Act, or judgment is entered in pursuance of
subsection (3) thereof, the defendant shall be entitled to costs to be taxed as between
advocate and client unless the court otherwise orders.

ance of
subsection (3) thereof, the defendant shall be entitled to costs to be taxed as between
advocate and client unless the court otherwise orders.

(2) This section shall not affect any proceedings by or on behalf of the Government against a local
authority. [L.N. 102/1974.]
5. Extension of limitation period in case of disability
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4 of this Act, if, on the date when a right of action accrues for
which a period of limitation is prescribed by this Act, the person to whom it accrues is under a disability,
the action may be brought at any time before the end of twelve months from the date when that person
ceases to be under a disability:
Provided that—
(i) this section does not apply in respect of proceedings where the right of action first accrues to a
person who is not under a disability and through whom the person under a disability claims;
(ii) this section does not apply to an action to recover a penalty or forfeiture or a sum by way of penalty
or forfeiture recoverable by virtue of a written law. 6. Application of Cap.

o an action to recover a penalty or forfeiture or a sum by way of penalty
or forfeiture recoverable by virtue of a written law. 6. Application of Cap.

22
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 31 of the Limitation of Actions Act, section 22 of that Act shall
not apply in respect of the provisions of this Act; and in section 27 of the Limitation of Actions Act the
reference to section 4(2) of that Act shall be read and construed as a reference to section 3(1) of this Act,
but subject thereto and notwithstanding section 42 of the Limitation of Actions Act, Part III of that Act
shall apply to this Act. 7. Transitional provisions
Where immediately before the date of commencement of this Act, the time for commencing any
proceedings has not already expired under any law relating to the limitation of actions then in force, but
2

Public Authorities Limitation Act (Cap. 39) Kenya
the bringing of such proceedings is barred by the provisions of this Act, the proceedings may be instituted
before the expiration of twelve months from the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided that nothing in this section shall enable the institution of any proceedings in respect of which
the time for bringing such proceedings would have expired apart from the provisions of this Act.
8. [Spent]
9. [Spent]
10. [Spent]
11. [Spent]
SCHEDULE
Spent
3