[2024] KEHC 9130 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, Davis Ndungu Maina, lacked the legal capacity to substitute the deceased beneficiary, Peter Gichuki Wambugu, in the succession proceedings. The applicant was not listed as a beneficiary in the estate and failed to produce any grant of letters of administration for the estate of...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEHC 9130 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Davis Ndungu Maina; Respondent: Charles Ndungu Wambugu; Respondent: Peter Ngunjiri Wambugu; Respondent: Jane Wanjiku Wambugu; Respondent: Peter Gichuki Wambugu
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 144 of 2004
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Substitution Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- MA Odero
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Letters of Administration, Substitution of Parties, Capacity to Sue
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Davis Ndungu Maina
Applicant
Charles Ndungu Wambugu
Respondent
Peter Ngunjiri Wambugu
Respondent
Jane Wanjiku Wambugu
Respondent
Peter Gichuki Wambugu
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Substitution Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant has legal capacity to substitute the deceased beneficiary Peter Gichuki Wambugu in the succession proceedings.
- 2 Whether the applicant has obtained letters of administration for the estate of Peter Gichuki Wambugu.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, Davis Ndungu Maina, lacked the legal capacity to substitute the deceased beneficiary, Peter Gichuki Wambugu, in the succession proceedings. The applicant was not listed as a beneficiary in the estate and failed to produce any grant of letters of administration for the estate of Peter Gichuki Wambugu. The court emphasized that only a person with a valid grant of representation can represent a deceased person's estate in legal proceedings. In the absence of such authority and in light of the objections raised by the deceased's mother, the application was found to be without merit and was dismissed in its entirety.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application dated 12th September, 2023 is dismissed in its entirety.
- Each party to bear their own costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
In re Estate of the late Wambugu s/o Mariga alias Christopher Mariara (Deceased) (Succession Cause 144 of 2004) [2024] KEHC 9130 (KLR) (19 July 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 9130 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Nyeri
Succession Cause 144 of 2004
MA Odero, J
July 19, 2024
ESTATE OF THE LATE WAMBUGU S/O MARIGA ALIAS CHRISTOPHER MARIARA (DECEASED)
Between
Davis Ndungu Wambugu
Applicant
and
Charles Ndungu Wambugu
1st Respondent
Peter Ngunjiri Wambugu
2nd Respondent
Jane Wanjiku Wambugu
3rd Respondent
Peter Gichuki Wambugu
4th Respondent
Ruling
1. Before this court is the Summons dated 12th September, 2023 by which the Applicant Davis Ndungu Maina seeks to be substituted for the one Peter Gichuki Wambugu a beneficiary of the estate who passed away on 22nd July, 2023.
2. The application was opposed by one Pauline Wangari Wambugu an administrator of the estate who filed a Replying Affidavit dated 31st January, 2024. The said ‘Pauline’ avers that Peter Gichuku Wambugu is her son. She confirms that he is now deceased. However Pauline states that she does not know the Applicant Davis Ndung’u Maina and questions his legal capacity to represent the estate of Peter Gichuki Wambugu.
3. I have considered this application. I note that the Deceased whose estate is the subject of this Succession cause the late Christopher Wambugu Mariara died way back on 19th November, 1999. I have perused the list of survivors of the Deceased contained in the supporting Affidavit dated 26th January, 2005. The Applicant Davis Ndung’u Maina is not listed as an beneficiary to the estate.
4. It is therefore curious in what capacity the Applicant seeks to substitute the beneficiary Peter Gichuki Wambugu. The mother of the late Peter Gichuki denies all knowledge of this Davis Ndungu.
5. In order for the Applicant to substitute Peter Gichuki and to represent his estate he must be in possession of letters of Administration in respect of the estate of the said Peter Gichuki. No such Grant of representation issued to the Applicant has been exhibited.
6. In the case of Isaya Masira Momanyi -vs- Daniel Omwoyo & Another [2017] eKLR the court held that:-“It is trite law that the estate of a deceased person can only be represented in any legal proceedings by a person who is duly authorized to do so on behalf of the estate only a person who has been issued a grant of letters of administration has capacity to represent the estate of a deceased person ” [Own emphasis].
7. In the absence of letters of Administration issued to him and given the objections of the mother of the person the Applicants wishes to substitute I find that the present Application has no merit. The same is dismissed in its entirety. Each party to bear their own costs.
DATED IN NYERI THIS 19THDAY OF JULY, 2024. …………………………………………MAUREEN A. ODEROJUDGE