[2014] KEHC 5486 (KLR)
The court held that John Njoroge Kuria, having died single and without children, should have his name removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant, as there are no successors to his share. In contrast, Mary Wanjiku Kuria, though deceased and married, is survived by children who are entitled to inherit her...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEHC 5486 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Administrators of the estate of Miriam Gathoni Kuria; Respondent: Beneficiaries (including John Njoroge Kuria and Mary Wanjiku Kuria)
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 492 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Application to Review Certificate of Confirmation of Grant
- Outcome
- Partially allowed; name of John Njoroge Kuria removed, but not Mary Wanjiku Kuria.
- Judges
- DN Musyoka
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Confirmation of Grant, Removal of Beneficiary, Right of Substitution, Inheritance Entitlement
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Administrators of the estate of Miriam Gathoni Kuria
Applicant
Beneficiaries (including John Njoroge Kuria and Mary Wanjiku Kuria)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Application to Review Certificate of Confirmation of Grant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the names of deceased beneficiaries should be removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant.
- 2 Whether the children of a deceased married beneficiary are entitled to inherit her share under the Law of Succession Act.
- 3 Whether marriage of a female beneficiary affects her entitlement to a share in the estate.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that John Njoroge Kuria, having died single and without children, should have his name removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant, as there are no successors to his share. In contrast, Mary Wanjiku Kuria, though deceased and married, is survived by children who are entitled to inherit her share by substitution under Section 41 of the Law of Succession Act. The fact of her marriage is irrelevant to her entitlement or that of her children. Therefore, her name cannot be removed from the certificate unless her children formally renounce their right to inherit. The court directed the children to indicate their interest in the estate and set a mention date for compliance.
Court Disposition
Partially allowed; name of John Njoroge Kuria removed, but not Mary Wanjiku Kuria.
Orders
- The name of John Njoroge Kuria shall be removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 20th December 2011.
- The children of Mary Wanjiku Kuria shall file documents in court indicating whether or not they are interested in taking up the interest in the estate of the deceased due to their mother.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 492 OF 2009
IN THE MATTER OF THE MIRIAM GATHONI KURIA – (DECEASED)
RULING/DIRECTIONS
1. The administrators of the estate of the deceased have filed an affidavit sworn by themselves on 15th July 2013. The contents of the affidavit are to the effect that two beneficiaries have died:- John Njoroge Kuria and Mary Wanjiru Kuria. They have attached copies of letters from the chiefs of Thigio and Ndeiya Locations.
2. The letters from the Chiefs attest to the fact that John Njoroge Kuria died a single man without spouse and children; while Mary Wanjiru Kuria had been married to a Humprey Muturi Mundia.
3. The unstated intention in the filing of the affidavit sworn on 15th July 2013 is ostensibly to review my orders of 13th June 2013 with respect to these two individuals.
4. I had in an earlier ruling required the administrators to file a further affidavit to address the issues of whether John Njoroge Kuria and Mary Wanjiku Kuria had been married and whether they had children.
5. In view of the details given in the further affidavit I would allow the removal of the name of John Njoroge Kuria from the certificate of confirmed grant dated 20th December 2011.
6. Regarding Mary Wanjiku Kuria, I am mindful of the provisions of Part V in particular Section 41 of the Act of the Law of Succession Act. The fact that Mary Wanjiku Kuria was married is irrelevant and does not affect her estate’s enttlement to a share in the estate of the deceased, given that the deceased died after the Act came into force. She had children, and by virtue of Section 41 of the Act, the said children are entitled to substitute their deceased mother and take the shares due to her. Consequently, I cannot order the removal of the name of Mary Wanjiku Kuria from the certificate of confirmation of grant.
7. The name of the said Mary Wanjiku Kuria can only be removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant upon a deed of renunciation of right to inheritance by the children of the said Mary Wanjiku Kuria.
8. The final orders that I am disposed to make in this matter are as follows:-
1. That the name of John Njoroge Kuria shall be removed from the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 20th December 2011;
2. That the children of Mary Wanjiku Kuria shall file documents in court indicating whether or not they are interested in taking up the interest in the estate of the deceased due to their mother; and
3. That the matter shall be mentioned after thirty (30) days of compliance.
DATED, SIGNED and DELIVERED at NAIROBI this 25th DAY OF April, 2014.
W. MUSYOKA
JUDGE
No appearance the applicant.