[2018] KEHC 2795 (KLR)
The court held that, in the absence of a surviving spouse and based on Section 38 of the Law of Succession Act, the estate of the deceased should devolve equally among all surviving children. Where a child of the deceased is also deceased, that child's share devolves equally to their own children, as provided by...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 2795 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Kenneth Kimathi; Respondent: Veronicah Kanario Murithi; Interested Party: Catherine Murithi; Interested Party: Martha Ntarara Murithi
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 102 of 1998
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- grant confirmed; estate to be distributed equally among children and per stirpes to grandchildren of deceased children.
- Judges
- F Gikonyo
- Legal Topics
- Intestate Succession, Distribution of Estate, Confirmation of Grant, Devolution to Children, Representation of Deceased Beneficiaries
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kenneth Kimathi
Applicant
Veronicah Kanario Murithi
Respondent
Catherine Murithi
Interested Party
Martha Ntarara Murithi
Interested Party
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the estate of the deceased should be distributed equally among the surviving children in the absence of a surviving spouse.
- 2 How the shares of deceased children should devolve to their respective children.
- 3 Whether the proposed mode of distribution by the interested parties should be adopted in the absence of a proposal from the applicant.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that, in the absence of a surviving spouse and based on Section 38 of the Law of Succession Act, the estate of the deceased should devolve equally among all surviving children. Where a child of the deceased is also deceased, that child's share devolves equally to their own children, as provided by Section 41 of the Act. The court found no reason to depart from the list of beneficiaries and their respective shares as provided by the interested parties, given the applicant's failure to file any alternative proposal. The grant of letters of administration was therefore confirmed in terms consistent with the law and the proposal of the interested parties, ensuring equal...
Court Disposition
grant confirmed; estate to be distributed equally among children and per stirpes to grandchildren of deceased children.
Orders
- The Grant of Letters of Administration issued to Kenneth Kimathi, Catherine Murithi and Martha Ntarara Murithi is confirmed in terms set out in the judgment.
- The estate property shall devolve equally among the children of the deceased, with shares of deceased children devolving to their respective children in equal shares.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
203 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MERU
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 102 OF 1998
In the Matter of the Estate of Francis M Murithi (Deceased)
KENNETH KIMATHI……..……………..………..…………………..APPLICANT
-Versus-
VERONICAH KANARIO MURITHI
CATHERINE MURITHI
MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI…..……………………INTERESTED PARTIES
JUDGMENT
[1] The Interested Parties namely, Catherine Murithi and Martha Ntarara Murithi have applied for Confirmation of Grant issued to Kenneth Kimathi, Catherine Murithi and Martha Ntarara on 20th March 2018.
[2] The interested parties have proposed that the estate be distributed as follows:
A. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK II/31-0. 465 HA
(i) VERONICAH KANARIO MURITHI
(II) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(III) CATHERINE MURITHI
B. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK II/63-0. 45HA
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA (Deceased) & brothers-to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
C. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK A& BII/125
(I) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(I) BRIAN KIMATHI MURITHI-(on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(III) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI –to hold in trust for the children of late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IV) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI- to hold in trust for SHARON MAKENA
D. NTIMA/IGOKI/1970
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI share equally
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
E. KIIRUA /KIIRUA/80
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHARINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI MURITHI
(V) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI (on behalf of the late)
(VI) BARBRA KARIMI William Mwirigi Murithi
(VII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI
BETTY KARIMI to hold in trust for the children
CAROLINE NTINYARI of late ANN KAREE BUNDI
EVANS KIMATHI
DOMINIC NDUMBA
(IV) PETER MWENDA
- MARTIN KARANI MWENDA (Deceased) – Beneficiary - NICOLE KENDI
- GEOFREY MWITI
- ANTONY MUTUMA
- DAVID THURANIRA (deceased) - beneficiaries MAUREEN KAGENDO and JAMINE MURIUKI
- JAMES KIRIINYA
(VII) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI- to hold in trust of SHARON MAKENA
F. LOWER ABOTHUGUCHI/IGANE/1101
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- (on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(IX) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI- to hold in trust for the children of the late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(X) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust of CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
G. KIAMURI “A” /166-4. 2 HA
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(II) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- (on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI-to hold in trust for the children of late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI- to hold in trust for CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
H. NKUENE/MITUNGUU-KITHINO/207- 15. 0HA
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(II) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- (on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI-to hold in trust for the children of late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI- to hold in trust of CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
I. KIIRUA/KIIRUA NKANDO/2862-2. 7HA
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANIRO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- (on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI-(to hold in trust for the children of the late AA KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust of CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
J. KIIRUA/KIIRUA NKANDO/2861-3. 63HA
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI-(on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI- to hold in trust for the children of the late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust for CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
K. EABL 338 SHARES
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- (on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI-to hold in trust for the children of the late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA-to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust of CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
L.STANDARD BANK SHARES
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(III) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI-on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI-to hold in trust for the children of the late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA-to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust for CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
M. KENYA AIRWAYS SHARES
(I) LUKE KIUMBE MURITHI
(II) ANDREW MUGAMBI MURITHI
(II) VERONICA KANARIO MURITHI
(IV) MARTHA NTARARA MURITHI
(V) CATHERINE MURITHI
(VI) LAZARO KINOTI M’ MURITHI
(VII) KENNETH KIMATHI MURITHI- on behalf of the late WILLIAM MWIRIGI MURITHI)
(VIII) BRIAN KITHINJI BUNDI- to hold in trust for the children of the late ANN KAREE BUNDI
(IX) MARTIN KARANI MWENDA- to hold in trust for the children of the late PETER MWENDA
(X) BELINDA KATHURE MWIRIGI-to hold in trust for CHARITY KANANU MWIRIGI
[3] On 20th March 2018, the court directed the Applicant to file his proposed mode of distribution within 30 days. The cause was scheduled for mention on 24th July 2018. On 24th July 2018, Mr. E Kimathi holding brief for Mr. Kaumbi for the Applicant intimated to court that Mr. Kaumbi was yet to file submissions and requested for more time to do so’ The request was granted by court but with further directions that he files mode of distribution within 21 days. As at the time of writing this judgment the Applicant had not filed his proposed mode of distribution.
No spouse but children
[4] Although only the interested parties filed their mode of distribution, I will be guided by law in my decision. The widow of the deceased died on 18. 10. 2016. I will take therefore that the deceased has left behind children and no surviving spouse. Accordingly, the guiding provision of the law is Section 38 of the Law of Succession Act which states:
“Where an intestate has left a surviving child or children but no spouse, the net intestate estate shall, subject to the provisions of sections 41 and 42, devolve upon the surviving child, if there be only one, or shall be equally divided among the surviving children.”
[5] The deceased sired the following children:-
1. Peter Mwenda……son (deceased)
2. Veronica Kanario Murithi..daughter
3 Andrew Mugambi Murithi….son
4. Ann Karee…daughter (deceased)
5. Luke Kiumbe..son
6. William Mwirigi..son (deceased)
7. Charity Kananu…daughter (deceased)
8. Martha Ntarara’’daughter
9. Charles Kinoti..son
10. Catherine Kairuthi Murithi..daughter
[6] Applying the law, I direct that all the estate property listed below shall devolve equally amongst the children of the deceased named above. The estate property are
A. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK II/31-0. 465 HA
B. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK II/63-0. 45HA
C. MERU MUNICIPALITY BLOCK A& BII/125
D. NTIMA/IGOKI/1970
E. KIIRUA /KIIRUA/80
F. LOWER ABOTHUGUCHI/IGANE/1101
G. KIAMURI “A” /166-4. 2 HA
H. NKUENE/MITUNGUU-KITHINO/207- 15. 0HA
I. KIIRUA/KIIRUA NKANDO/2862-2. 7HA
J. KIIRUA/KIIRUA NKANDO/2861-3. 63HA
K. EABL 338 SHARES
L.STANDARD BANK SHARES
M. KENYA AIRWAYS SHARES
[7] As some of the beneficiaries are deceased, their children shall take, in equal shares, the share which their parent would have taken had he not died. The persons listed in paragraph 3 of their affidavit sworn on 24th July 2018 by the interested parties shall take the share of their deceased parents as shown below:
(a) Peter Mwenda (deceased) - survived by-;
(i) Geoffrey Mwiti
(ii) Antony Mutuma
(iii) David Thuranira (deceased) – survived by-;
M K (Minor)
J M (Minor)
(iv) James Kiriinya
(v) Martin Karani (deceased) - survived by-:
N K (minor)
(b) Ann Karee (deceased) - survived by -;
(i) Dominic Ndumba
(ii) Betty Karimi
(iii) Brian Kithinji
(iv) Caroline Ntinyari
(v) Evans Kimathi
(c) William Mwirigi Murithi (deceased) - survived -;
(i) Kenneth Kimathi
(ii) Barbra Karimi
(d) Charity Kananu Mwirigi (deceased) - survived by -;
(i) Belinda Kathure
(ii) Sharon Makena
. . I have not been provided with other list thereof. I also do not have any reason to doubt its exhaustiveness.
[8] Accordingly the Grant of Letters of Administration issued to Kenneth Kimathi, Catherine Murithi and Martha Ntarara Murithi is hereby confirmed in foregoing terms.
[9]This being a succession matter there will be no order as to costs.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court at Meru this 30th day of October 2018
-------------------------
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE
In presence of
Kithinji for interested parties
Interested parties present
Kaumbi for applicants – absent
-------------------------
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE