[2023] KEMC 118 (KLR)
The court found that the petitioner had established the grounds of cruelty and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as required under section 65 of the Marriage Act, 2014. The court noted the absence of any intention by either party to salvage the marriage, the length of physical separation, and the petitioner's...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEMC 118 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: FPA; Respondent: JO
- Court
- Magistrate's Court
- Court Station
- Chief Magistrate's Court (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Divorce Cause E867 of 2022
- Procedural Posture
- Divorce Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- petition allowed; marriage dissolved
- Judges
- JP Aduke
- Legal Topics
- Divorce, Cruelty, Irretrievable Breakdown, Christian Marriage, Dissolution of Marriage
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
FPA
Applicant
JO
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Divorce Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the marriage between the parties should be dissolved under section 65 of the Marriage Act, 2014.
- 2 Whether the grounds of cruelty and irretrievable breakdown have been established.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the petitioner had established the grounds of cruelty and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as required under section 65 of the Marriage Act, 2014. The court noted the absence of any intention by either party to salvage the marriage, the length of physical separation, and the petitioner's categorical request for dissolution. Citing relevant case law, the court held that it cannot compel parties to remain in a marriage where the union has broken down and one party seeks its dissolution. Accordingly, the court granted the orders sought and dissolved the marriage.
Court Disposition
petition allowed; marriage dissolved
Orders
- The marriage between the parties is hereby dissolved.
- Decree nisi to issue, to be made absolute in 30 days.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
FPA v JO (Divorce Cause E867 of 2022) [2023] KEMC 118 (KLR) (22 May 2023) (Judgment)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEMC 118 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Chief Magistrate's Court (Milimani Law Courts)
Divorce Cause E867 of 2022
JP Aduke, SRM
May 22, 2023
Between
FPA
Petitioner
and
JO
Respondent
Judgment
1. The Petitioner filed the petition dated 08th July 2022 seeking a divorce on the grounds of cruelty and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Return of service on record shows that the respondent was served with the petition and annexures thereto. The respondent neither entered appearance nor filed a response. The petitioner filed an application seeking to have the petition proceed undefended. Return of service on record shows the petitioner served the respondent with the said application. These proceedings proceeded undefended.
2. The brief facts of the case are as contained in para 1-11 of the petition on record. In summary, FPA and JO solemnized their marriage on 09/12/2017 in Church in Donholm, Nairobi in Kenya. The parties have NIL issues from the union as at the date of writing this judgment. Both the Petitioner and respondent are domiciled in Kenya. The parties have no intentions of salvaging this marriage. The particulars of the grounds for divorce are outlined in the petition as follows:1. Cruelty;2. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;
3. At the hearing thereof, the petitioner relied on her petition and verifying affidavit on record as evidence in support of the petition for divorce. Notably, the petitioner averred that the contents of the petition remained true as at the date of the hearing. She prayed for an order of dissolution of the marriage.
4. The issue for determination before this court is whether or not the marriage between the parties merits an order of divorce under The Marriage Act, 2014 (hereafter, the Act).
5. The applicable law is section 65 of the Act (on dissolution of Christian marriages) which provides that the court may grant separation or divorce on the following grounds:1. adultery by the other spouse;2. cruelty by the other spouse;3. exceptional depravity by the other spouse;4. desertion by the other spouse for at least 3 years;5. the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
7. I have considered the particulars of the grounds outlined in the petition and how those have contributed to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as contemplated under section 65 of the Act. I have also noted the length of physical separation of the couple herein and relied on the reasoning of the court in JSM v ENB [2015]. With respect to intention to salvage the union, I have noted the unequivocal terms of para 4 of the Petition on lack of such intention. The reasoning of the court in ROK v MJB and TPH v NVS [2017] eKLR cannot be emphasized enough-“marriage is a voluntary union……this court cannot by any means order or compel the parties to remain married when the petitioner has categorically stated that she wants the same dissolved…”
8. Seeing as this court cannot force two adults to live together when there is no more love between them, I allow the petition dated 08th July 2022 before me on the following terms:1. the marriage between the two be and is hereby dissolved.2. Decree nisi do issue to be made absolute in 30 days.3. This being a family matter, each party to bear own costs.
JUDGEMENT DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNED THIS 22ND MAY 2023 AT 12. 10 PM.ADUKE JEAL PRAXADES ATIENOSENIOR RESIDENT MAGISTRATEIn the presence of:Court Assistant: Benjamin KombeCounsel for the Petitioner- N/ACounsel for the Respondent: N/A