[2023] KEHC 1767 (KLR)
The High Court found that the trial magistrate erred by proceeding to determine the Respondent's application without affording the Appellant an opportunity to present her case and call witnesses, despite the existence of filed witness statements and legal representation. This amounted to a violation of the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 1767 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Hellen Wanjiru Mwangi; Respondent: Margaret Nyambura Wainaina
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Murang'a
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Appeal 2 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal allowed; lower court ruling and proceedings set aside; matter remitted for rehearing before a different magistrate.
- Judges
- J Wakiaga
- Legal Topics
- Succession Disputes, Dependant Status, Customary Marriage, Right to Fair Hearing
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Hellen Wanjiru Mwangi
Appellant
Margaret Nyambura Wainaina
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Respondent was properly declared a wife and dependant of the deceased for purposes of succession.
- 2 Whether the Appellant was denied the right to fair hearing by not being allowed to adduce evidence and call witnesses.
- 3 Whether the trial court erred in failing to consider the Appellant's replying affidavit and submissions.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court found that the trial magistrate erred by proceeding to determine the Respondent's application without affording the Appellant an opportunity to present her case and call witnesses, despite the existence of filed witness statements and legal representation. This amounted to a violation of the Appellant's constitutional right to a fair hearing. The court emphasized that the right to be heard is fundamental and cannot be dispensed with, regardless of the merits of the case. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, the ruling and proceedings before the lower court were set aside, and the matter was remitted for hearing afresh before a different magistrate.
Court Disposition
Appeal allowed; lower court ruling and proceedings set aside; matter remitted for rehearing before a different magistrate.
Orders
- The appeal is allowed.
- The ruling dated March 16, 2021 and the proceedings leading to it before Hon. E.M. Nyagah are set aside.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
In re Estate of Samuel Ngung’a Mwangi (Deceased) (Succession Appeal 2 of 2021) [2023] KEHC 1767 (KLR) (14 March 2023) (Judgment)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 1767 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Murang'a
Succession Appeal 2 of 2021
J Wakiaga, J
March 14, 2023
Between
Hellen Wanjiru Mwangi
Appellant
and
Margaret Nyambura Wainaina
Respondent
(Being an Appeal against the judgment delivered by Hon. E.M. Nyagah in Succession Cause No. 408 of 2019)
Judgment
1. The Appellant was the Petitioner in Succession Cause No 408 of 2019 while the Respondent was the Objector/Protestor to the application for a Confirmation of Letters of Administration issued on June 23, 2020.
2. By summons under Section 26 of the Laws of Succession Act, the Respondent applied to be given LOC 2/MAIRI/152, LOC 2/MAIRI/T27 and Plot 197/11A MAIRI as a Dependant of the deceased on the grounds that she had cohabited with him from the year 2001 until his demise in the year 2019 and that the deceased had given her around 5,000 tea bushes which she had been cultivating and utilizing in land Parcel No LOC 2/MAIRI/152.
3. Directions were issued that the Objection be heard by way of oral evidence at which hearing the objector presented three (3) witnesses and closed her case.
4. This Appeal arises out of these proceedings where the objector closed her case and the record does not show that the Petitioner presented her case as at the time of this Ruling thereon dated March 16, 2021 in which Court found for the Respondent as a dependant.
5. Being dissatisfied with the said Ruling the Appellant filed this Appeal and raised the following grounds of appeal: -a)The learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in declaring, that the Respondent herein is a wife and hence a dependant in the estate of Samuel Ngung’a Mwangi.b)The learned Magistrate erred in law and infact and failed to appreciate the customary marriage between the deceased and the Respondent was void and he was still married to the Appellant.c)The learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to allow the Appellant and her witnesses adduce their evidence in Court and determine the matter devoid of due weighty factual and legal considerations in support of Appellant’s cause.d)The learned magistrate erred in law and in fact by failing to partly or wholly consider the contents of the Appellant’s Replying Affidavit as deponed and submissions filed which justifies her position thereby rendering the Appellant being disentitled to her due share of the estate.e)The learned Magistrate erred in law by failing to consider the material circumstances of the case and thus arrived at the wrong conclusion.
6. This being a First Appeal the Court is required to re-evaluate and re-assess the record of the proceedings and from the record herein it is clear that the Petitioner did not tender in evidence to challenge the objector’s contentions and the record of proceedings does not show that the same who was represented by an Advocate indicated that she did not intend to call witnesses to enable the Court give directions on the filing of submissions whereas there were already Witness Statements filed by the same.
7. In so proceeding the Court fell into error and since the right to fair hearing is a Constitutional right and having found that the same was not heard, I hereby allow the Appeal set aside the Ruling dated March 16, 2021 and the proceedings leading to the same before Hon. E.M. Nyagah.
8. The Application dated July 3, 2020 be to heard on merit by another Magistrate other than Hon. E.M. Nyagah.
5. The mater to be placed before Chief Magistrate for allocation to another Magistrate and directions thereon.
6. This being a family matter, there is no Order as to costs.
7. Mention before the Chief Magistrate on 27th April, 2023.
DATED AND SIGNED AT MURANG’A THIS 14THDAY OF MARCH 2023. J. WAKIAGAJUDGEIn the presence of:Mr. Njoroge Mbugua for ApplicantMr. Mwaniki for the RespondentMs Caroline Mutahi – Court Assistant