[2016] KEHC 2139 (KLR)
The court found that the application for rectification of the confirmed grant was merited as the omitted assets were clearly identified and supported by documentary evidence. There was no opposition to the application, and the rectification was necessary to ensure all assets of the deceased are properly included for...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 2139 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Public Trustee; Respondent: Mukeli Mutinda Muithya
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 157 of 1998
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Summons for Rectification of Confirmed Grant
- Outcome
- Application for rectification of the confirmed grant allowed as prayed.
- Judges
- DO Ogembo
- Legal Topics
- Rectification of Grant, Distribution of Estate, Probate and Administration
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Public Trustee
Applicant
Mukeli Mutinda Muithya
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Summons for Rectification of Confirmed Grant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the certificate of confirmation of grant should be rectified to include omitted shares and land parcels in the estate of the deceased.
- 2 Whether the rectification is necessary to facilitate the effective distribution of the estate.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the application for rectification of the confirmed grant was merited as the omitted assets were clearly identified and supported by documentary evidence. There was no opposition to the application, and the rectification was necessary to ensure all assets of the deceased are properly included for distribution. The court exercised its discretion under Section 74 and Rule 43(1) of the Law of Succession Act to allow the rectification, thereby facilitating the effective and lawful distribution of the estate to the rightful beneficiaries and purchasers as proposed by the applicant.
Court Disposition
Application for rectification of the confirmed grant allowed as prayed.
Orders
- The certificate of confirmation of grant made to the Public Trustee on 22nd October, 2004 is rectified to include 11,556 and 4,032 East African Breweries Limited ordinary shares and land parcels Kalawa/Katulumbu/359 and Makueni/Kalawa/Kathulumbi/8.
- The rectified certificate shall reflect the distribution of assets as proposed in the application.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
43 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MACHAKOS
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 157 OF 1998
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MUTINDA MUITHYA – DECEASED
AND
IN THE MATTER OF RECTIFICATION OF THE GRANT OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION TO THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED UNDER SECTION 74 RULE 43(1) OF THE LAW OF SUCCESSION ACT (CAP. 160 LAW OF KENYA)
RULING OF THE COURT
1. The Summons for Rectification of Confirmed Grant dated 16th May, 2016 seeks the following orders;
a. That the certificate of Confirmation Grant made to the Public Trustee on 22nd October, 2004 be rectified in the following respect as provided by Rule 43(1) of the Probate and Administration Rules.
That the schedule of assets be rectified to read as follows:-
i. 11,556 East African Breweries Limited ordinary shares omitted in the certificate be included.
ii. 4,032 East African Breweries Limited ordinary shares omitted in the certificate be included.
iii. Land parcel Number; Kalawa/Katulumbu/359 omitted in the certificate be included.
iv. Land parcel number; Makueni/Kalawa/ Katulumbi/8 omitted in the certificate be included.
b. That the costs of this application be paid out of this estate.
2. The applicant’s case is that the Grant of Letters of Administration was issued to the Public Trustee on 28th April, 2004. The said grant was confirmed on 22nd October, 2004. After the process of confirmation, the Public Trustee did receive instructions from one Mukeli Mutinda Muithya widow to the deceased instructing them to include the following assets in the Estate which assets were held by the deceased prior to his demise.
i. 11,556 East African Breweries Limited ordinary shares
ii. 4,032 East African Breweries Limited ordinary shares
iii. Land Parcel number; Kalawa/Katulumbu/359
iv. Land Parcel Number Makueni/Kalawa/ Katulumbi/8
(The Applicant annexed copies of share certificates marked MN-1).
3. The land parcel number Makueni/Kalawa/Kathulumbi/8 has since been sold to one Stephen Mboya Mulonzi (Annexed and marked MN-2 is a copy of the identity card).
4. That Mutuku Mutinda Muithya the second son and a heir to the Estate has since passed on (Annexed and marked MN-3 is a copy of the death certificate).
5. The Applicant’s case is that it is desirable that the certificate of confirmation be rectified to include the shares and land parcels to facilitate distribution of the estate.
6. It is proposed that the rectified certificate of confirmation of grant should read as follows:
The identification and shares of all persons beneficially entitled to inherit the estate of the deceased have been ascertained and determined as follows:
Kalawa/Kathulumbi/359 to be registered in the name of Mwongela Mutinda Muithya son to the deceased.
Makueni/Kalawa/Kathulumbi/8 to be registered in the name of Stephen Mboya Mulonzi (Purchaser).
11,556 East African Breweries Ltd ordinary shares, Account Number 65,200 to be registered in the name of Mukeli Mutinda Muithya.
4,032 East African Breweries Ltd ordinary shares, Account Number 746950 to be registered in the name of Mukeli Mutinda Muithya.
Schedule of Assets.
11,556 East African Breweries Limited Ordinary shares
4,032 East African Breweries Limited Ordinary shares
Land parcel number; Kalawa/Kathulumbu/359
Land Parcel Number; Makueni/Kalawa/ Kathulumbi/8
7. The Applicant submitted that it is desirable that the said certificate of grant be rectified to enable finalization of this estate effectively.
8. I have carefully considered the application. There is no opposition to it. The same is allowed as prayed.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED THIS 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2016
E.K.O. OGOLA
JUDGE
In the presence of;
M/S Salim for Public Trustee
Court Assistant – Mr. Munyao