[2018] KEELC 1517 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, Magderine Kathanga Muriungi, had obtained a limited grant of letters of administration ad litem in respect of the deceased defendant's estate. The suit had already been finalized and a decree issued, with funds deposited in court for the benefit of the deceased. The plaintiff...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELC 1517 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Grace Kagwiria Mbijiwe; Defendant: M’Chabari Kairaria M’Kirumati (deceased); Applicant: Magderine Kathanga Muriungi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Chuka
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 147 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Substitution and Release of Funds
- Outcome
- Application allowed in terms of prayers 1 and 2; no order as to costs.
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Substitution of Parties, Letters of Administration, Release of Court Deposit, Execution of Decree
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Grace Kagwiria Mbijiwe
Plaintiff
M’Chabari Kairaria M’Kirumati (deceased)
Defendant
Magderine Kathanga Muriungi
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Substitution and Release of Funds
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant, as the widow and administrator of the deceased defendant, should be substituted as a party to the suit.
- 2 Whether the sum of Kshs.355,540 deposited in court should be released to the applicant as the legal representative of the deceased defendant.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, Magderine Kathanga Muriungi, had obtained a limited grant of letters of administration ad litem in respect of the deceased defendant's estate. The suit had already been finalized and a decree issued, with funds deposited in court for the benefit of the deceased. The plaintiff confirmed receipt of the suit property and raised no objection to the substitution or release of funds. In these circumstances, the court held that the applicant was entitled to be substituted as defendant and to receive the funds deposited in court, as she was the proper legal representative of the deceased. The application was therefore allowed in terms of substitution and...
Court Disposition
Application allowed in terms of prayers 1 and 2; no order as to costs.
Orders
- The applicant, Magderine Kathanga Muriungi, is substituted as defendant in place of the deceased M’Chabari Kairaria M’Kirumati.
- The sum of Kshs.355,540 deposited in court is to be paid to Magderine Kathanga Muriungi.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
47 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT CHUKA
CHUKA ELC CASE NO 147 OF 2017
FORMERLY MERU ELC CASE NO. 134 OF 2016
GRACE KAGWIRIA MBIJIWE...............................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
M’CHABARI KAIRARIA M’KIRUMATI...........DEFENDANT
RULING
1. In this matter, Mr. I.C. Mugo, advocate, held brief for Miss Kaaria for the defendant on 31st July, 2018. The parties were directed to come to court on 8th October, 2018 for directions concerning the applicant’s application dated 24th day of July, 2018. The application seeks the following orders:
1. That the honourable court be pleased to order that the defendant M’Chabari Kairaria M’Kirumati (now deceased) be substituted with Magderine Kathanga Muriungi the applicant herein.
2. That the honourable court be pleased to order that the sum of Kshs.355,540/= (Three Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Shillings) deposited in court be paid to Magderine Kathanga Muriungi, the defendant herein.
3. That costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of MAGDERINE KATHANGA MURIUNGI and has the following grounds:
1. That the applicant is the wife of the defendant M’Chabari Kairaria M’Kirumati (deceased).
2. That the applicant has been granted limited letters of administration in respect to the estate of the deceased.
3. That before the demise of the applicant’s husband, the suit had already been finalized and a decree issued.
3. The application is supported by the affidavit of the applicant sworn on 24th July, 2018 which states:
1. That I am the applicant herein and therefore well conversant with the matters deponed hereto.
2. That the defendant was my husband who has since passed away. (Annexed and marked MKM1 is a copy of the certificate of death).
3. That I have filed a succession cause in respect to the plaintiff’s estate, same being Chuka H.C. Misc. Succ Cause No. 5 of 2018 and I was issued with a limited grant of letters of administration ad litem on 16th day of May, 2018. (Annexed and marked MKM 2 is a copy of the letters of administration ad litem).
4. That before the demise of my husband , the suit was already finalized and a decree issued to that respect. (Anexed and marked MKM 3 is a copy of the decree).
5. That a sum of Kshs.355,540/= (Three Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Shillings) was deposited in court vide Order No. 507 of the said decree which was to be paid to my deceased husband.
6. That I am desirous of being substituted in place of the deceased defendant to proceed with the suit.
7. That all what is deponed to hereunder is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
4. On 8th October, 2018, this court’s Deputy Registrar received a letter from the firm of MBIJIWE MUGO & CO, Advocates which states as follows:
TO THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR,
HIGH COURT OF KENYA,
CHUKA
Dear Sir,
RE: CHUKA ELC NO. 147 OF 2017 (FORMERLY MERU ELC NO. 134 OF 2016)
GRACE KAGWIRIA MBIJIWE -VRS- M’CHABARI KAIRARIA M’KIRUMATI & MAGDERINE KATHANGA MURIUNGI
I refer to the above matter which came up for the hearing of the chamber summons application dated 24th July, 2018 before the honourable Justice Njoroge on the 31st July, 2018 when the same was stood over to the 8th of October, 2018 for mention/directions.
I wish to confirm that pursuant to the decree of this honourable court issued to me on the 22nd of March, 2017, the Chuka Land Registry issued me with original Title documents for the suit property herein namely Title Numbers: S.Tharaka/Tunyai ‘A’/3765, 3766 and 3767, copies of which are attached hereto for the record of the court.
I hereby confirm that I have no further claims against the defendants and/or applicant for the sale/purchase by me of the said property and I have no objection to the funds held by this court being released to the applicant herein.
Yours faithfully,
Grace Kagwiria Mbijiwe
(Plaintiff)
5. On 8th October, 2018, the parties told the court that they had agreed to have the application allowed. I note that the defendant’s wife, Magderine Kathanga Muriungi, obtained Limited Grant of Letters of Administration Ad Litem at Chuka High Court on 16th May, 2018.
6. In the circumstances, the application is allowed in terms of prayers 1 and 2.
7. No costs are awarded with regard to this application to any of the parties.
8. It is so ordered
Delivered in open Court at Chuka this 08th day of October, 2018 in the presence of:
CA: Ndegwa
M/S Kithaka h/b Mbijiwe Mugo for the plaintiff/respondent
Kiogora Arithi h/b Miss Kaaria for the defendant/applicant
P. M. NJOROGE
JUDGE