[2016] KEHC 3069 (KLR)
The court found that the original Will was produced and properly executed by the deceased, Margaret Herman M’Mbui, by affixing her fingerprint in the presence of two competent witnesses who attested to the execution. There was no evidence of fraud, coercion, or mistake, and no objection was raised to the Will or the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 3069 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Julia Makena Mbui; Applicant: Martha Kangai Mbui
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 678 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Confirmation of Grant of Probate
- Outcome
- Application for confirmation of grant allowed; grant of probate confirmed.
- Judges
- F Gikonyo
- Legal Topics
- Probate and Administration, Wills, Grant Confirmation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Julia Makena Mbui
Applicant
Martha Kangai Mbui
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Confirmation of Grant of Probate
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the original Will produced is valid and properly executed.
- 2 Whether the grant of probate should be confirmed in accordance with the Will.
- 3 Whether there is any evidence of fraud, coercion, or mistake affecting the Will.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the original Will was produced and properly executed by the deceased, Margaret Herman M’Mbui, by affixing her fingerprint in the presence of two competent witnesses who attested to the execution. There was no evidence of fraud, coercion, or mistake, and no objection was raised to the Will or the confirmation of the grant. The executors named in the Will were the applicants, and the application for confirmation of grant was in accordance with the Will. The court therefore confirmed the grant of probate and directed that the estate be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Will as set out in the supporting affidavit.
Court Disposition
Application for confirmation of grant allowed; grant of probate confirmed.
Orders
- The application for confirmation of grant dated 18th January 2016 is allowed.
- The grant of probate made to Julia Makena Mbui and Martha Kangai Mbui on 2nd April 2015 is confirmed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MERU
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 678 OF 2009
(In the matter of the Estate of Margaret Herman
M’Mbuialias Margret Herman M’Mbui (Deceased)
JULIA MAKENA MBUI..................................................1ST PETITIONER
MARTHA KANGAIMBUI...............................................2ND PETITIONER
RULING
Confirmation of grant of probate
[1] In my ruling delivered on 1st September, 2016, I directed the applicants to deliver the original Will for authentication by the court. The original Will has now been produced and is part of the record. I amnow ina position to determinethe application for confirmation of grant dated 15th day of January, 2016. I am satisfied that a grant of probate was rightly made to Julia Makena Mbui and Matha Kangai Mbui on 2nd day of April 2015; the two are the appointed executors in the Will dated 6th day of October 2010 made by the testator. The said Will has been signed by the testator by affixing a finger print to the Will. The said finger print of the testator has been placedand it appears it was intended thereby to give effect to the writing as a Will. Finally, the Will has been attested toby two competent witnesses, namely Mungani M. Paula and Joshua Muriuki Munyua by appending their signatures to signify that they have seen the testatoraffix her finger print to the Will. In the Will, the testator also averredthat she affixed her finger print to the Will in the presence of thesetwo witnesses. The Will was drawn by KiauthaArithi and Co. Advocates.
[2] As there is no evidence to the contrary or to prove that this Will or any part thereof was caused byfraud or coercion or was induced by mistake, Iconsider the Will tobe valid and proved. The executorship proposed in the application is in accordance with the Willand I there is nothing to suggest that the executors will not administer the estate according to the law. There is also no objection to the Will or for confirmation of the grant of probate that has been raised or filed. Accordingly, I allow the application for confirmation of grant dated 18th January 2016 and I hereby confirm the grant of probate made to the applicants herein on 2nd day ofApril 2015. Distribution of the estate shall be in accordance with the terms of the Willand as have been reproduced in paragraph 6 of the affidavit in support of the application dated 18thJanuary, 2016.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court this 26th day of September, 2016.
..................
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Mr. Munene Advocate for two petitioners who are present
......................
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE