[2004] KEHC 1680 (KLR)
The court held that there is no legal provision under the Law of Succession Act or the Probate and Administration Rules for execution of orders in the manner sought by the applicant. While the applicant was entitled to the sums as per the consent order, the law does not allow for execution proceedings akin to those...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2004] KEHC 1680 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Mary Wairimu Waime; Respondent: Joseph Magondu Waweru; Respondent: Elizabeth Wangari; Respondent: Robert Njogu Waweru
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 2721 of 2002
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Application for Execution of Consent Order
- Outcome
- Application for execution of the consent order dismissed. Directions issued for inventory and accounting by personal representatives.
- Judges
- FI Koome
- Legal Topics
- Administration of Estates, Duties of Personal Representatives, Distribution of Estate, Execution of Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mary Wairimu Waime
Applicant
Joseph Magondu Waweru
Respondent
Elizabeth Wangari
Respondent
Robert Njogu Waweru
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Application for Execution of Consent Order
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court can order execution of a consent order for payment to beneficiaries under the Law of Succession Act.
- 2 Whether the administrators have failed in their duties to distribute the estate as per the court order.
- 3 What remedies are available when personal representatives fail to comply with court orders in succession matters.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that there is no legal provision under the Law of Succession Act or the Probate and Administration Rules for execution of orders in the manner sought by the applicant. While the applicant was entitled to the sums as per the consent order, the law does not allow for execution proceedings akin to those under the Civil Procedure Rules in succession matters. However, the court found that the personal representatives had failed in their duties to administer the estate and, exercising its inherent powers under section 47 of the Law of Succession Act and rule 73 of the Probate and Administration Rules, directed the personal representatives to produce a full inventory and account...
Court Disposition
Application for execution of the consent order dismissed. Directions issued for inventory and accounting by personal representatives.
Orders
- The personal representatives are directed to produce to the court a full inventory of the assets and liabilities of the deceased and a full and accurate account of all dealings therewith from the date the grant was issued within ninety days from the date of this ruling.
- No award of costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 2721 OF 2002
IN THE ESTATE OF JORAM WAWERU MOGONDU (DECEASED)
RULING ON APPLICATION BY WAY OF SUMMONS DATED 5TH
FEBRUARY 2004 BY
MARY WAIRIMU WAIME
The applicant Mary Wairimu Waime is also the co-administratix of the deceased estate, has sought for orders that the following beneficiaries of the deceased estate namely
1) Joseph Magondu Waweru
2) Elizabeth Wangari
3) Robert Njogu Waweru
Do abide with the orders issued by Hon. Justice Mbogholi made on 12th May 2003 by paying a sum of Kshs.150,000/= to each of the above beneficiaries.
Secondly, execution of the order dated 12th May 2003 do issue. This application is brought under the provisions of Section 82 of the Law of Succession Act Cap 160, Rule 49 of the P & A rules and Section 3 A of the Civil Procedure Act.
The application is supported by the affidavit of the applicant. The gist of the matters deposed thereto are to do with issues of the order recorded in court in settlement of the issues of distribution of the estate of the deceased.
The order made on 12th March 2003 directed that each of the following daughters of the deceased he gave Kshs.150,000/= from the net estate of the deceased.
Dorcas Mukami Migwi
Hilda kabura
Farida Wanjiku
Mary Wairimu Waime
According to the applicant all her efforts to get the coadministrator to settle the said amounts due to the beneficiaries have not been successful. Unfortunately my reading of the sections under which this application has been made does not provide for execution of the order if the personal representative of the deceased has failed to comply with the order. What the applicant is seeking for is an order to compel the administrators to pay the sum as per the consent order. Order 21 of the Civil Procedure Rules which deals with matters of execution is not one of the orders imported to the Law of Succession.
In the absence of a law supporting the prayers sought, I have no basis upon which I can grant the order. I am however persuaded that the personal representations of the deceased estate herein have failed in their duties and in view of the provisions of section 47 of the Law of Succession and rule 73 of the P & A rules I hereby direct the personal representative do produce to the court a full inventory of the assets and liabilities of the deceased and a full and accurate account of all dealings therewith from the date the grant was issued within ninety days from the date of this ruling.
There will be no award of costs.
Ruling read and signed on 28th May 2004.
MARTHA KOOME
JUDGE