[2010] KEHC 50 (KLR)
The court found that the objector's protest, which was based on an alleged trust arrangement regarding the deceased's land, was well founded in principle. However, the court held that such a claim cannot be conclusively determined within the context of succession proceedings. Instead, the appropriate course is to...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2010] KEHC 50 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Margaret Wanjiru Murobi; Respondent: Jackson Mwangi Mwahuri
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 154 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Confirmation of Grant and Protest
- Outcome
- Confirmation of grant suspended pending determination of trust claim.
- Legal Topics
- Succession and Inheritance, Trust of Land, Confirmation of Grant, Distribution of Estate
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Margaret Wanjiru Murobi
Applicant
Jackson Mwangi Mwahuri
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Confirmation of Grant and Protest
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the petitioner, as a married daughter, is entitled to inherit from the deceased's estate.
- 2 Whether the objector's claim that the deceased held the land in trust for his brothers is valid and can be determined in succession proceedings.
- 3 Whether confirmation of grant should be suspended pending determination of the trust claim.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the objector's protest, which was based on an alleged trust arrangement regarding the deceased's land, was well founded in principle. However, the court held that such a claim cannot be conclusively determined within the context of succession proceedings. Instead, the appropriate course is to suspend the confirmation of the grant pending the determination of the trust claim in separate proceedings as provided under rule 41(2) and (3) of the Probate and Administration Rules. The court also noted that costs would abide the outcome of the trust action.
Court Disposition
Confirmation of grant suspended pending determination of trust claim.
Orders
- Confirmation of grant is suspended pending determination of the trust claim under rule 41(2) and (3) of the Probate and Administration Rules.
- Costs of the proceedings to abide the outcome of the trust action.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
17 paragraphs
REPUBLICOF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NYERI
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO.154 OF 2010
IN THE MATTER OF ESTATE OFMUROBI KAMUCHERU ………………...……………….DECEASED
AND
MARGARET WANJIRU MUROBI…………….......................................................................……PETITIONER
VERSUS
JACKSON MWANGI MWAHURI…………….........................................................................………OBJECTOR
RULING
When Murobi Kamucheru passed away, Margaret Wanjiru Murobi (Petitioner), the deceased’s daughter, applied to be given letters of administration intestate to administer the deceased’s estate before the Murang’a R.M’s Court. Jackson Mwangi Mwahuri (Objector) a nephew to the deceased, filed an objection to the making of the grant to the Petitioner on the basis that she was not going to properly administer the deceased’s estate because she was married. He also cross-petitioned for the grant. On 28th May 2008, the grant of letters of administration was granted in the joint names of Petitioner and the Objector. The Petitioner applied for the grant to be confirmed vide the summons for confirmation of grant dated 24th February 2009 in which she proposed to solely inherit the deceased’s assets. The objector filed an affidavit of protest in which he opposed the Petitioner’s schedule of distribution. Directions were given to the effect that the dispute be disposed of by oral evidence. The Protestor and Petitioner each testified in support of their positions without summoning the evidence of independent witnesses.
According to the evidence of the Protestor, the deceased had two brothers namely Mwahuri Kamucheru (Protestor’s father) and Nyingi Kamucheru. It is said during land consolidation the deceased caused himself to be registered as the proprietor of the parcel of land known as Loc. 10/Wanjengi/342 measuring 3 acres in trust for himself and his two brothers. The Protestor stated that the trio were to share the aforesaid parcel of land in equal measure of 1 acre each. The Protestor further claimed that the deceased subdivided the aforesaid parcel of land into two portions vizly: Loc. 10/Wanjengi/954 (1 acre) and Loc. 10/Wanjengi/955 (two acres). It is said the deceased sold L.R. No. Loc. 10/Wanjengi/954 leaving Loc. 10/Wanjengi/955 to be shared by his brothers. According to the Protestor, the Petitioner was not entitled to share the remaining parcel of land because her father (deceased) had sold what was entitled to him. The Petitioner accused the Protestor of discriminating against her because she was a married daughter of the deceased.
I have considered the oral evidence tendered by both sides and the written submissions. It is obvious that the Protestor’s claim is based on trust. I find the Protest to be well founded. However the grant cannot be confirmed on the basis of the affidavit of protest because a claim based on trust cannot be established through these proceedings. A fair order to make in the circumstances is to suspend the confirmation of grant pending the determination of the claim based on trust under rule 41 (2) and (3) of the Probate and Administration Rules which I hereby make. Costs of the proceedings to abide the outcome of the aforesaid action.
Dated and delivered this 25th day of November 2010.
J.K. SERGON
JUDGE
In open court in the presence of Mr. Mutiso holding brief Kiambi for the objector and no appearance for Petitioner.