[2021] KEHC 13542 (KLR)
The court held that the application for revocation of grant dated 7th August 2017 was fully compromised by the consent order of 8th July 2019, which revoked the previous grant and set out the procedure for issuance of a fresh grant and confirmation. The subsequent proceedings purporting to address the already...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 13542 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Beatrice Mugalitsa Tsiavonga; Respondent: Joseph Idalia Muluhya
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Vihiga
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 80 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Compliance With Consent Orders and Administrative Directions
- Outcome
- Directions issued for compliance with consent orders and administration of the estate; unnecessary proceedings nullified.
- Judges
- DN Musyoka
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Revocation of Grant, Confirmation of Grant, Administration of Estates
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Beatrice Mugalitsa Tsiavonga
Applicant
Joseph Idalia Muluhya
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Compliance With Consent Orders and Administrative Directions
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the application for revocation of grant dated 7th August 2017 was still pending after the consent order of 8th July 2019.
- 2 Whether the parties complied with the consent orders regarding issuance of a fresh grant and subsequent confirmation proceedings.
- 3 What directions should be given to ensure compliance with the consent orders and proper administration of the estate.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the application for revocation of grant dated 7th August 2017 was fully compromised by the consent order of 8th July 2019, which revoked the previous grant and set out the procedure for issuance of a fresh grant and confirmation. The subsequent proceedings purporting to address the already compromised application were unnecessary and resulted from a failure to comply with the consent orders. The court directed the Deputy Registrar to issue the fresh grant as per the consent, allowed either administrator to file for confirmation, and provided for the other to file a protest if necessary. The court emphasized the binding nature of consent orders and the need for parties...
Court Disposition
Directions issued for compliance with consent orders and administration of the estate; unnecessary proceedings nullified.
Orders
- The Deputy Registrar is directed to process a grant of letters of administration intestate forthwith, in terms of the orders of 8th July 2019.
- The orders of 8th July 2019 are varied to allow either of the new administrators to file the application for confirmation of grant, with liberty for the other to file and serve a protest if necessary.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT VIHIGA
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 80 OF 2021
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LAWRENCE MULUHYA ALUGAH (DECEASED)
RULING
1. When the application for revocation of grant, dated 7th August 2017, came up for hearing on 8th July 2019, the parties resolved it by consent in the following terms:
(a) That the grant of letters of administration dated 13th September 2016 was revoked;
(b) That afresh grant was to issue to Beatrice Mugalitsa Tsiavonga and Joseph Idalia Muluhya;
(c) That the summons for confirmation of grant dated 28th April 2017 be marked as withdrawn;
(d) That Beatrice Mugalitsa Tsiavonga file a fresh application for confirmation of grant, within fourteen days;
(e) That Joseph Idalia Muluhya file an affidavit of protest to the proposals on distribution to be made in the confirmation application, if that was necessary; and
(f) That the matter be mentioned for compliance.
2. When the matter was mentioned on 12th November 2019, there had been no compliance with the consent orders of 8th July 2019, for the Deputy Registrar was yet to issue a fresh grant of letters of administration intestate to the two new administrators, and, ostensibly, for that reason the two administrators were yet to file their application for confirmation of grant. What transpired on the date for mention, was that Mrs. Muleshe, for Beatrice Mugalitsa Tsiavonga, had filed a summons, dated 15th July 2019, seeking leave to cease acting for her client. That application was heard on 18th February 2020, where it was allowed by consent.
3. After the application by Mrs. Muleshe was allowed, Ms. Namenge, for Joseph Idalia Muluhya, sought directions for disposal of the summons dated 7th August 2017. The directions were given on 27th October 2020, for disposal of the said application by viva voce evidence. The oral hearing happened on 21st July 2021, and I am meant to be writing a ruling on the said application.
4. The proceedings conducted on 21st July 2021 were completely needless, for the application dated 7th August 2017 was compromised on 8th July 2019. That application is no longer pending, and what should have been done was compliance with the terms of the consent of 8th July 2019 as outlined in paragraph 1 of this ruling. The Deputy Registrar should have processed a grant of letters of administration intestate, in terms of the said consent, after which the new administrators were to file for confirmation of their grant. The court was misled on 18th February 2020, to give directions on the revocation application, which had ceased to pend on 8th July 2019.
5. In view of what I have stated above, the orders that I shall make in the circumstances are:
(a) That I direct the Deputy Registrar to process a grant of letters of administration intestate forthwith, in terms of the orders of 8th July 2019;
(b) That I hereby vary the said orders, with regard to the filing of the summons for confirmation of grant, and direct that either of the new administrators is at liberty to file the said application, and the other party will then be at liberty to file and serve a protest to the summons, if need be; and
(c) That the matter shall be mentioned, on a date that I will allocate at the delivery of the ruling, for compliance and directions on the disposal of the application to be filed under (b) above.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED IN OPEN COURT AT KAKAMEGA THIS 26TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021
W MUSYOKA
JUDGE