[2013] KEHC 3265 (KLR)
The court held that, in accordance with Section 40 of the Law of Succession Act, the estate of a polygamous deceased should be distributed based on the number of units in each house, with each wife constituting a unit and each child constituting a unit. The applicant's house comprised eight units (herself and seven...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 3265 (KLR)
- Parties
- Respondent: Florence Nduta; Applicant: Priscilla Jepkoech David
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 452 of 1997
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Post Judgment Application for Distribution of Undistributed Estate Property and Release of Funds
- Outcome
- Application dated 1.7.2011 determined; plot N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 distributed as three acres to applicant and one acre to respondent; funds for applicant's children to be released to her; each party to bear own costs.
- Legal Topics
- Succession of Polygamous Estates, Distribution of Estate Assets, Administration of Estates, Beneficiary Entitlements
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Florence Nduta
Respondent
Priscilla Jepkoech David
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Post Judgment Application for Distribution of Undistributed Estate Property and Release of Funds
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 should be distributed between the two widows and their respective children, and in what proportions.
- 2 Whether the proceeds from sugarcane grown on plot number 256, previously received by the applicant, should affect the distribution or require accounting.
- 3 Whether the funds deposited in court for the benefit of the deceased's children should be released to the applicant for redistribution.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that, in accordance with Section 40 of the Law of Succession Act, the estate of a polygamous deceased should be distributed based on the number of units in each house, with each wife constituting a unit and each child constituting a unit. The applicant's house comprised eight units (herself and seven children), while the respondent's house comprised two units (herself and one child). The court found that the applicant had already benefited from the cane proceeds from plot number 256 for 12 years and should therefore bear the costs of subdivision and transfer of the one acre portion awarded to the respondent. The court ordered that plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 be...
Court Disposition
Application dated 1.7.2011 determined; plot N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 distributed as three acres to applicant and one acre to respondent; funds for applicant's children to be released to her; each party to bear own costs.
Orders
- Plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 is distributed as follows: Priscilla Jepkoech David - 3 acres; Florence Nduta - 1 acre.
- The applicant (Priscilla Jepkoech David) shall meet the costs of subdivision and transfer of the one acre portion to the respondent (Florence Nduta).
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Kakamega
Succession Cause 452 of 1997 [if gte mso 9]><![endif]
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID NGUGI NJOROGE ------- DECEASED
FLORENCE NDUTA ……………………………...………PETITIONER/RESPONDENT
V E R S U S
PRISCILLA JEPKOECH DAVID ……………......………… OBJECTOR/APPLICANT
R U L I N G
On the 30. 6.2010 this court delivered its judgment whereby the deceased’s estate was distributed to the beneficiaries. The court did not distribute plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 measuring 4 acres. The court also directed PRISCILLAH JEPKOECH to file a statement of account on the cane proceeds she had received for the last 12 years. The objector (PRISCILLAH JEPKOECH) filed an application dated 1. 7.2011 seeking to be given plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 so that she can distribute the same to her children and offset the administrative cause. The objector also sought to have a restriction placed on plot number BUTSOTSO/ESUMEYIA/1502 by the petitioner removed. She also
prayed that the amount of money due to her children be given to her so that she can distribute it. The petitioner filed a replying affidavit sworn on the 19. 7.2012.
The prayer for the removal of the caution against plot number 1502 has been spent as Justice Kimaru on the 20. 6.2011 granted that order. In her supporting affidavit to the above application the objector annexed copies of accounts from Mumias Outgrowers Company showing the cane proceeds for plot number 256. According to her statement of account, she received payments from 1998 up to 2010 although in 2010 the account had a loss of KShs.29,727/=. According to her the net amount of money she got was KShs.76,710/=.Some of the money was deposited in court. The applicant/objector contends that she has seven children while the petitioner has only one. She would like her family to be considered as comprising eight units while that of the petitioner to have two units.
In her replying affidavit the petitioner contends that the objector has benefited from the cane proceeds from plot number 256 for 12 years. She is asking for an equal share of the proceeds. The petitioner also contends that there were properties in the Rift Valley Province that were given to the applicant alone. The petitioner would like to be given plot number 256. When the court distributed the estate, part of the mode of distribution was that a sum of KShs.101,000/= that had been deposited in court be distributed equally amongst the deceased’s eight children. If that distribution has not been made I do order that the portion meant for the seven children of the applicant be released to the applicant who will redistribute to her children.
The main issue now remaining is how plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 should be distributed. The two parties herein are the widows of the deceased. Although the petitioner contends that the Rift Valley properties were given to the objector alone, the proceedings show that there was only one plot number
35 MAILI NNE/ELDORETthat was given to the applicant. Section 40 of the Law of Succession Act give guidance as to how the estate of a polygamous deceased should be distributed. The applicant’s family comprises seven children and the applicant herself while that of the petitioner is composed of the petitioner and her child. I will proceed to distribute plot number N.WANGA/NAMAMALI/256 as follows:-
1. PriscillahJepkoech David - 3 acres
2. Florence Nduta - 1 acre
I do further order that since the applicant benefited from the cane proceeds from plot 256 she will meet the costs of the subdivision and transfer of the one acre portion of land meant for the petitioner. The applicant shall hold the three acres for her own benefit and the benefit of her seven children.
In the end, the application dated 1. 7.2011 is determined in the above terms and each party shall meet her own costs.
DELIVERED AND DATED AT KAKAMEGA THIS 29TH DAY OF MAY 2013
SAID J. CHITEMBWE
J U D G E
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