https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/8853

https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/8853

The court found that the succession cause was properly filed in the Principal Magistrate's Court because the estate was then estimated at Kshs. 6,000,000/= and within jurisdiction. The applicants' later valuation, prepared by a qualified valuer, showed the estate had appreciated to Kshs. 54,200,000/=, and the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2026] KEHC 8853 (KLR)
Parties
1st Applicant: JONATHAN KIMENCHO LAGAT; 2nd Applicant: KIPCHUMBA CHEBINOT LAGAT; 3rd Applicant: SALLY CHEMELI; 4th Applicant: DORCAS CHEPKOGEI NGENY; 5th Applicant: HOSEA KIPTANUI KITUR; 1st Respondent: CHEPTALAM TAPLELEI NGENY; 2nd Respondent: MARY CHEPKEMEI NGENY
Court
High Court
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Family Miscellaneous Application E015 of 2025
Procedural Posture
Family Succession Application / Ruling on Motion for Transfer of Succession Cause
Outcome
Application allowed
Judges
["OA Sewe"]
Legal Topics
Transfer of Suit Between Courts, Pecuniary Jurisdiction, Valuation of Estate Assets, Expert Evidence, Costs
Source Language
en
Family Law Succession Law Civil Procedure Transfer of Suit Between Courts Pecuniary Jurisdiction Valuation of Estate Assets Expert Evidence Costs

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Parties

JONATHAN KIMENCHO LAGAT

1st Applicant

KIPCHUMBA CHEBINOT LAGAT

2nd Applicant

SALLY CHEMELI

3rd Applicant

DORCAS CHEPKOGEI NGENY

4th Applicant

HOSEA KIPTANUI KITUR

5th Applicant

CHEPTALAM TAPLELEI NGENY

1st Respondent

MARY CHEPKEMEI NGENY

2nd Respondent

Procedural Posture

Family Succession Application / Ruling on Motion for Transfer of Succession Cause

  1. 1 Whether the High Court should transfer Succession Cause No. 135 of 2022 from the Principal Magistrate's Court at Kabiyet.
  2. 2 Whether the value of the estate had exceeded the magistrate's pecuniary jurisdiction.
  3. 3 Who should bear the costs of the application.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the succession cause was properly filed in the Principal Magistrate's Court because the estate was then estimated at Kshs. 6,000,000/= and within jurisdiction. The applicants' later valuation, prepared by a qualified valuer, showed the estate had appreciated to Kshs. 54,200,000/=, and the respondents did not file any counter-valuation to challenge it. Since the suit was originally competent and the higher current value placed it beyond the magistrate's jurisdiction, transfer to the High Court was justified under section 18 of the Civil Procedure Act.

Court Disposition

Application allowed

Orders

  • Succession Cause No. 135 of 2022, In the Matter of the Estate of Kiplagat Kimgea alias Kiplagat arap Ngeny (Deceased), filed at the Principal Magistrate's Court at Kabiyet, is transferred to the High Court for hearing and determination.
  • Costs of the application shall be in the cause.