[2004] KEHC 643 (KLR)
The court found that the respondent, Edward Mukora Kabui, obtained the grant of letters of administration by making false statements and concealing material facts, specifically by failing to disclose the existence of other beneficiaries and by misrepresenting that he was the sole surviving child. The purported...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2004] KEHC 643 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Lucas Mungai Kabui; Applicant: Paul Njoroge Kabui; Applicant: Edward Ndungu Kabui; Respondent: Edward Mukora Kabui
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 220 of 2000
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Summons for Revocation of Grant
- Outcome
- grant revoked; new administrators appointed
- Judges
- FI Koome
- Legal Topics
- Revocation of Grant, Fraudulent Obtainment of Administration, Disclosure of Beneficiaries, Law of Succession Act, Appointment of Administrators
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Lucas Mungai Kabui
Applicant
Paul Njoroge Kabui
Applicant
Edward Ndungu Kabui
Applicant
Edward Mukora Kabui
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Summons for Revocation of Grant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the grant of letters of administration was obtained fraudulently by false statements and concealment of material facts.
- 2 Whether the respondent failed to disclose all beneficiaries entitled to the estate.
- 3 Whether the consent to the petition was forged or improperly obtained.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the respondent, Edward Mukora Kabui, obtained the grant of letters of administration by making false statements and concealing material facts, specifically by failing to disclose the existence of other beneficiaries and by misrepresenting that he was the sole surviving child. The purported consents of the other beneficiaries were found to be forgeries. The court held that such conduct justified revocation of the grant under Section 76 of the Law of Succession Act. The court further exercised its inherent jurisdiction to appoint new administrators representing both houses of the deceased, ensuring that all beneficiaries' interests are protected. The respondent's...
Court Disposition
grant revoked; new administrators appointed
Orders
- The grant issued to Edward Mukora Kabui on 18th July 2000 and confirmed on 20th March 2002 is revoked.
- All consequential transactions pursuant to the revoked grant are also revoked.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
30 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI CAUSE NO. 220 OF 2000
IN THE ESTATE OF SAMUEL KABUI MUKORA (DECEASED)
RULING
This court was called upon to determine the summons for revocation and or annulment of the grant, which was confirmed on 20th March 2002. The application is dated 4th June 2003 and it is brought by Lucas Mungai Kabui, Paul Njoroge Kabui and Edward Ndungu Kabui. The application is premised on the grounds that the grant that was issued to Edward Mukora Kabui on 18th July 2000 and subsequently confirmed on 20th March 2002 was obtained fraudulently by making of false statements, concealment from the court of material facts and by way of untrue allegations of facts essential in point of law to justify the grant. According to the supporting affidavits, the deceased, the late Kabui Mukora died intestate on the 15th April 1981 and was survived by the first wife the late Felicitas Wambui Kabui who later passed away and the following children.
Edward Mukora Kabui son of the 2nd wife
Henry Kimamo Kabui - first wife
Joe Mbugua Kabui - first wife
Lucas Mungai Kabui - first wife
Teresia Murugi Muraya - first wife
John Kamachia Kabui - first wife
Paul Njoroge Kabui - first wife
Edward Ndungu Kabui – first wife
Except for Edward Mukora kabui whose mother Gladys Wanjiru predeceased the late Kabui Mukora all the other children are by his first wife Felicitas Wambui Kabui. The petitioner did not inform the Applicants when he obtained the letters of administration. The petitioner falsely and fraudulently stated that he had sought the consent or renounciation of rights of all the children of the deceased, and while indeed no such consent was given to the petitioners.
The consent that was purportedly signed by six (6) children was not signed by them and is a forgery. Further the petitioner indicated in an affidavit sworn on14th May 2001 that the deceased was not survived by any widow or children except himself which is a misrepresentation. It is on the basis of these misrepresentation and forged documents that the letters of administration were made to the petitioner on 18th July 2000 and subsequently confirmed on 20th March 2002. The deceased parcels of land being
Chania/Kanyoni/912
Chania Kanyoni/908 and
Muguga/Gitaru/333
were all vested upon Edward Mukora Kabui.
The respondent/petitioner did not attend court during the hearing despite the fact that the date for hearing was fixed by M/S Ndungu Githuku counsel for the respondent. I have considered the replying affidavits by the respondent that was sworn on 18th July 2003. He has admitted that the deceased was survived by a widow and children. The gist of the matter deposed to in the said affidavit can be summarized as follows:
1. That the deceased distributed his land during his lifetime but retained the titles in respect of the properties contained in the petition in his name but in Trust of the respondent.
2. That the applicants were fully aware of the respondent’s petition but they did not want to be involved since they had no interest in the particular parcels of land.
I am of the firm view that, all this information should have been disclosed by the application in the petition. The law is clear in that before letters of administration are granted all persons entitled in the some degree or in priority with the applicant should be notified. I am satisfied that the respondent misled the court in his application when he stated that the deceased was not survived by any other child or widow.
Accordingly there is sufficient justification for this court to revoke the grant that was issued on 18th July 2000 to Edward Mukora Kabui and confirmed on 20th March 2002, and all the consequential transactions pursuant to the said grant are consequently revoked.
Considering that the deceased died in 1981 and this petition was filed in 2000, I am inclined to exercise the inherent jurisdiction rested in this court by virtue of Section 47 of the Law of Succession Act and rules 73 of the P & A rules and appoint administrators who should bring in an application for confirmation within a period of six(6) months. I would have been reluctant to appoint the petitioner, but going through the affidavit, it would appear that the deceased did not allocate to him any land in his lifetime as he did to the other beneficiaries.
It is mete and just that he should be appointed as an administrator together with one of applicant’s Paul Njoroge Kabui in order to include the interests of both houses.
Accordingly let a new grant be made to Edward Mukora Kabui and Paul Njoroge Kabui who should either jointly or singularly file the summons for confirmation within six months. The costs of this application should be born by the respondent.
It is so ordered.
Ruling read and signed on 4th February, 2004.
MARTHA KOOME
JUDGE