[2021] KEHC 3631 (KLR)

[2021] KEHC 3631 (KLR)

The court found that there was no valid gift inter vivos as there was no written memorandum or completed transfer of title by the deceased to his heirs before death. The estate, therefore, remained the free property of the deceased, subject to distribution under the Law of Succession Act. The court rejected the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] KEHC 3631 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Samwel Okinyi Aroni; Applicant: Philemon Omwega Aroni; Applicant: Joseph Onyoni Aroni; Respondent: Sospeter Ochiengo Aroni
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Kisii
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Succession Cause 94 of 2010
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate After Failure of Administrators to Agree
Outcome
Estate distributed among beneficiaries as per occupation and statutory provisions; each party to bear own costs.
Judges
REA Ougo
Legal Topics
Intestate Succession, Polygamous Estates, Distribution of Estate, Customary Law Vs Statute, Gifts Inter Vivos, Beneficiary Entitlement
Source Language
en
Family and Children Intestate Succession Polygamous Estates Distribution of Estate Customary Law Vs Statute Gifts Inter Vivos Beneficiary Entitlement

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Parties

Samwel Okinyi Aroni

Applicant

Philemon Omwega Aroni

Applicant

Joseph Onyoni Aroni

Applicant

Sospeter Ochiengo Aroni

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate After Failure of Administrators to Agree

  1. 1 Whether the deceased subdivided his land prior to his death.
  2. 2 Whether the court should be guided by Gusii Customary Law in the distribution of the estate.
  3. 3 How the property of the deceased should be distributed among his beneficiaries.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that there was no valid gift inter vivos as there was no written memorandum or completed transfer of title by the deceased to his heirs before death. The estate, therefore, remained the free property of the deceased, subject to distribution under the Law of Succession Act. The court rejected the application of Gusii Customary Law, holding that the Law of Succession Act governs the distribution of estates for persons who died after its commencement, and the deceased's estate did not fall under any statutory exceptions. Given the polygamous nature of the family and absence of surviving spouses, section 38 of the Act applied, requiring equal distribution among surviving...

Court Disposition

Estate distributed among beneficiaries as per occupation and statutory provisions; each party to bear own costs.

Orders

  • LR. No. West Mugirango Scheme/Bosamaro East Plot No. 504 to be distributed as per County Surveyor's report dated 2nd May 2019 among listed beneficiaries with specified hectare allocations.
  • LR. No. West Mugirango Scheme/Bosamaro West Plot No. 1053 to be distributed: Grace Bonareri Aroni (1/2 share), Zinet Nyabeta Aroni (1/4 share), Sospeter Ochiengo Aroni (1/4 share).