[2020] KEKC 13 (KLR)
The court found that all beneficiaries to the estate of Hassan Abdi were captured in the consented mode of distribution. However, the court held that the shares must be distributed strictly in accordance with Islamic Law, not the previously consented mode. The widow is entitled to one-eighth of the estate, and each...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEKC 13 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Jaffer Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Nuria Mohamed; Respondent: Daudi Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Barwak Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Ahmed Noor Hassan; Respondent: Sirat Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Farhya Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Saddam Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Arafat Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Yasin Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Juweria Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Abdiqadir Hassan Abdi
- Court
- Kadhis Courts
- Court Station
- Kadhis Court at Homa Bay
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 1 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate
- Outcome
- Estate to be distributed in accordance with Islamic Law; applicant to deposit Daudi Hassan Abdi's share; no order as to costs.
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Islamic Inheritance, Distribution of Estate, Confirmation of Grant
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Jaffer Hassan Abdi
Applicant
Nuria Mohamed
Respondent
Daudi Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Barwak Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Ahmed Noor Hassan
Respondent
Sirat Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Farhya Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Saddam Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Arafat Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Yasin Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Juweria Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Abdiqadir Hassan Abdi
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the distribution of the estate of Hassan Abdi (deceased) should follow the consented mode or Islamic Law.
- 2 Whether all beneficiaries have been captured in the consented mode of distribution.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that all beneficiaries to the estate of Hassan Abdi were captured in the consented mode of distribution. However, the court held that the shares must be distributed strictly in accordance with Islamic Law, not the previously consented mode. The widow is entitled to one-eighth of the estate, and each son is to receive twice the share of each daughter. The applicant, as administrator, is ordered to deposit Daudi Hassan Abdi's share in monetary value into his bank account. No order as to costs was made. The court's decision is grounded in the application of Qur’anic principles of inheritance, which override any private family arrangement inconsistent with Islamic Law.
Court Disposition
Estate to be distributed in accordance with Islamic Law; applicant to deposit Daudi Hassan Abdi's share; no order as to costs.
Orders
- The shares of each beneficiary are to be as per Islamic Law, not as per the consented arrangement.
- The applicant (administrator) is to deposit into the bank account of Daudi Hassan Abdi his share in monetary value.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
49 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE KADHI’S COURT AT HOMABAY
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO 1 OF 2020
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HASSAN ABDI (DECEASED) AND
IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY JAFFER HASSAN ABDI (APPLICANT)
RULING
This succession suit was filed in this court by way of originating summons by one Jaffer Hassan Abdi referred herein after as the applicant on the 13th of January 2020 where he prays for;
1. Distribution of the estate of Hassan Abdi(deceased) as per the consented mode of distribution and
2. Whether all beneficiaries have been captured in the said consented mode of distribution.
In support of the summons were an affidavit sworn by the applicant, a copy of certificate of confirmation of grant issued to the applicant and a consent to the mode of distribution of the estate signed by all the beneficiaries among other documents.
The background of the matter is that the deceased passed away on the 9th of September 2017 leaving behind an estate value estimated at 32,981,520 kshs. The deceased never left a will behind. He was survived by 12 beneficiaries namely;
1) Nuria Mohamed – widow
2) Jaffer Hassan Abdi –SonDaudi
3) Hassan Abdi- Son
4) Barwak Hassan Abi- Daughter
5) Ahmed Noor Hassan- Son
6) Sirat Hassan Abdi –Son
7) Farhya Hassan Abdi – Daughter
8) Saddam Hassan Abdi – Son
9) Arafat Hassan Abdi – Son 10)Yasin Hassan Abdi – Son
11) Juweria Hassan Abdi –Daughter
12) Abdiqadir Hassan Abdi - Son
The matter came for hearing on the 22nd of January 2020 and the following heirs to the late Hassan Abdi appeared before this court:
1) Jaffer Hassan Abdi
2) Nuria Mohamed
3) Daudi Hassan Abdi
4) Barwak Hassan Abdi
5) Sirat Hassan Abdi
6) Farhya Hassan Abdi
The Applicant testified that all the beneficiaries to the estate of the late Hassan Abdi had agreed and appointed him administrator to the estate and also agreed to leave the estate intact and not to distribute it among themselves.
He states that after he was issued with certificate of confirmation of grant, one of the beneficiaries, Daudi Hassan Abdi (Son) claimed his share against what they had agreed upon before and has been causing unease among the family members since then.
As a result, all the other beneficiaries agreed to distribute the estate in accordance with Islamic Law and they first stated the shares of each individual whereby in this case the widow gets one 1/8 of the total estate(They(widows) get one-fourth of what you(deceased) leave behind, if you have no children. If you have children, they get one-eighth of what you leave.)Qur’an 4:12 and the sons and daughters to distribute the remaining after the widow’s share by giving each daughter ½ of what each son gets (The male receives the equivalent of the share of two females.)Qur’an 4:11, and lastly physically giving Daudi Hassan Abdi his portion in monetary value(cash) and leaving the remaining intact without physical splitting it.
The following are the shares which they agreed upon and consented to;
1) Each son shall get Kshs. 3,395,156/= being the total amount allocated to the deceased’s son.
2) Each daughter shall get Kshs. 1,697,578/= being total amount allocated to the deceased’s daughter.
3) The surviving widow shall get Kshs. 4,122, 690/=.
But, the following are their accurate shares in according to Islamic Law;The surviving widow gets Kshs. 4,122, 690 which is an eighth of 32,981 520 kshs.
1) Each Son gets Kshs. 3,037771. which is twice of what each Daughter gets.
2) Each Daughter gets Kshs. 1,518,885. which is half of the share of each Son.
After going through all that has been stated and together with the relied documents, I have found that all the beneficiaries to the estate of Hassan Abdi (deceased) have been captured in the consented mode of distribution and I do make the following orders;
1. THATthe shares of each beneficiary in regard to Islamic Law is as per what I’ve stated herein above and not what has been consented to.
2. THATApplicant(administrator) to deposit into the bank account of Daudi Hassan Abdi his shares in monetary value.
3. THATno order to costs.
It is so Ordered.
Dated, Signed and Delivered in Homabay this 5th day of February, 2020.
Hon. Idris N. Nyaboga
Resident Kadhi
In the presence of;
Court Assistant: Francis Tshombe Applicant: Jaffer Hassan Abdi