[2023] KEHC 21390 (KLR)

[2023] KEHC 21390 (KLR)

The court found that both parcels of land, Kimilili/Kimilili/747 and Ndivisi/Makuselwa/518, are part of the deceased's estate and available for distribution. The court rejected the Petitioner's claim that parcel Kimilili/Kimilili/747 was a gift inter vivos or held in customary trust for the 1st wife's house, citing...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEHC 21390 (KLR)
Parties
Petitioner: Benjamin Masibo Nabibia; Objector: Agnes Nasombi Wanyama
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Bungoma
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Succession Cause 10 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Judgment
Outcome
Objection allowed. Estate to be shared equally between the two houses.
Judges
DK Kemei
Legal Topics
Intestate Succession, Polygamous Estates, Gender Equality Inheritance, Equal Distribution, Customary Law Vs Statute, Trusts in Succession
Source Language
en
Family and Children Intestate Succession Polygamous Estates Gender Equality Inheritance Equal Distribution Customary Law Vs Statute Trusts in Succession

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Parties

Benjamin Masibo Nabibia

Petitioner

Agnes Nasombi Wanyama

Objector

Procedural Posture

Succession Cause / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether land parcel Kimilili/Kimilili/747 forms part of the deceased's estate for distribution.
  2. 2 What is the fair and lawful mode of distribution of the deceased's estate among the beneficiaries, considering polygamy and gender equality.
  3. 3 Whether the proposed modes of distribution by the parties comply with the Law of Succession Act and the Constitution.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that both parcels of land, Kimilili/Kimilili/747 and Ndivisi/Makuselwa/518, are part of the deceased's estate and available for distribution. The court rejected the Petitioner's claim that parcel Kimilili/Kimilili/747 was a gift inter vivos or held in customary trust for the 1st wife's house, citing lack of credible evidence and the fact that the land was registered in the deceased's name and used as ancestral land. The court held that all proposed modes of distribution by the parties were discriminatory against daughters and contrary to the Law of Succession Act and the Constitution, which require equal treatment of all children regardless of gender. The court emphasized...

Court Disposition

Objection allowed. Estate to be shared equally between the two houses.

Orders

  • LR No. Kimilili/Kimilili/747: 25 acres to be held in trust by Benjamin Masibo Nabibia for the 1st house; 25 acres to be held in trust by Agnes Nasombi Wanyama for the 2nd house.
  • LR No. Ndivisi/Makuselwa/518: 13 acres to be held in trust by Benjamin Masibo Nabibia for the 1st house; 13 acres to be held in trust by Agnes Nasombi Wanyama for the 2nd house.