[2008] KEHC 2476 (KLR)
The court found that Gordon Onyango Nyamita was the first son and rightful heir of the deceased, Charles Nyamita, and that Dorina Omollo Olando was merely a neighbour with no familial relationship or legal standing to petition for a grant of letters of administration. The court noted that Dorina did not obtain the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEHC 2476 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Gordon Onyango Nyamita; Respondent: Dorina Omollo Olando
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Succession Cause 213 of 2006
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Objection to Grant of Letters of Administration
- Outcome
- Objection allowed; petition proceedings by Dorina Omollo Olando declared a nullity and set aside.
- Legal Topics
- Grant of Letters of Administration, Consent of Beneficiaries, Locus Standi in Succession, Nullity of Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Gordon Onyango Nyamita
Applicant
Dorina Omollo Olando
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Objection to Grant of Letters of Administration
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Dorina Omollo Olando was entitled to petition for a grant of letters of administration over the estate of Charles Nyamita.
- 2 Whether the petition for grant was filed without the consent of the deceased's family and rightful heirs.
- 3 Whether the proceedings initiated by Dorina Omollo Olando should be nullified.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that Gordon Onyango Nyamita was the first son and rightful heir of the deceased, Charles Nyamita, and that Dorina Omollo Olando was merely a neighbour with no familial relationship or legal standing to petition for a grant of letters of administration. The court noted that Dorina did not obtain the consent of the deceased's family, nor did she appear to justify her actions. The evidence established that the petition was filed without proper authority and in contravention of the requirements of the Law of Succession Act. Consequently, the court held that the proceedings initiated by Dorina were a nullity and set them aside, granting the objector liberty to take appropriate...
Court Disposition
Objection allowed; petition proceedings by Dorina Omollo Olando declared a nullity and set aside.
Orders
- The proceedings on the petition by Dorina Omollo Olando are declared a nullity and set aside.
- The objector, Gordon Onyango Nyamita, is at liberty to take appropriate action regarding the estate of Charles Nyamita.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISUMU
Succession Cause 213 of 2006
IN THE MATTER OF CHARLES NYAMITA- DECEASED
-AND-
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION BY DORINA OMOLLO OLANDO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY: GORDON NYANGO NYAMITA...APPLICANT
R U L I N G
Coram:
J. W. Mwera J.
Mwamu for the applicant/objector
Defendant in person
Raymond Court Clerk/Inter.
The applicant herein is one Gordon Onyango Nyamita. His desire is that a grant in this cause should not issue to one Dorina Omollo Olando who filed this petition on 25. 4.2006. His reasons are that the said Dorina is not related to Charles Nyamita who died on 2. 12. 98. That the objector’s family did not consent to such move by Dorina and so this court should so find.
The objection was set for hearing on 14. 5.2008. Mr. Mwamu drew the court’s attention to an affidavit of service sworn on the same day to the effect that Dorina was notified of the hearing. She did not show up and the court proceeded to hear Gordon (PW1) ex parte.
He told the court that he was a son of the deceased Charles Nyamita (Exh. P1) and his only brother was called George Onyango. They had two married sisters. Dorina was only a neighbour in the village who had no right or cause to petition for a grant of letter over the estate herein. She did not get consent from the Nyamita family either, before petitioning. His brother was mentioned in P & A 5 form (excluding himself) and the rest of those named there were only villagers – not relatives. Of course the parcel of land enumerated there no. KSU/KOGUTA EAST/351 (Exh. P2) was in the name of the deceased. Thus the orders sought ought to be granted – nullifying this petition.
Mr. Mwamu submitted that the orders be granted.
In this court’s opinion and as per the evidence, the objector (Gordon) is the first son of the deceased Charles Nyamita. He is the entitled relative/heir who could and should petition to administer the estate herein. The present petitioner Dorina did not appear to argue why she moved to petition here. Gordon and/or his brother George did not consent to Dorina’s move and she does not seem to have had a cause for it.
Gordon testified that Henry Abuto was never the deceased father as P & A 5 filled by Dorina. His father was one William Opuk. She herself was not deceased’s mother either (See P & A -80).
In sum, the prayers are granted. The proceedings on this petition are found to be a nullity. They are set aside giving way to objector to take whichever course he considers proper in respect of his deceased father’s estate. Costs to the objector.
Ruling on 4. 6.2008.
J. W. MWERA
JUDGE