[2018] KEHC 5248 (KLR)
The court found that Nyabicha Nyangute has not been seen or heard from by his family or community since he left for Tanzania in 1960, a period exceeding 50 years. The affidavits of the applicant and supporting witnesses, all close relatives, confirm his prolonged absence and lack of communication. Section 118A of...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 5248 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Janes Nyanduko Obwanga; Respondent: Nyabicha Nyangute
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Originating Summons 1 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Originating Summons / Ruling
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Legal Topics
- Presumption of Death, Missing Persons, Letters of Administration
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Janes Nyanduko Obwanga
Applicant
Nyabicha Nyangute
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Originating Summons / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Nyabicha Nyangute can be presumed dead under Section 118A of the Evidence Act.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to orders to enable her commence succession proceedings over the estate of the missing person.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that Nyabicha Nyangute has not been seen or heard from by his family or community since he left for Tanzania in 1960, a period exceeding 50 years. The affidavits of the applicant and supporting witnesses, all close relatives, confirm his prolonged absence and lack of communication. Section 118A of the Evidence Act provides that if a person has not been heard of for seven years by those who would be expected to have heard from him if alive, there is a rebuttable presumption of death. No evidence was presented to rebut this presumption. The court concluded that the statutory requirements for presumption of death were satisfied and granted the orders sought by the applicant.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Nyabicha Nyangute is hereby presumed dead.
- Costs in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISII
ORIGINATING SUMMONS NO 1 OF 2018
IN THE MATTER OF THE EVIDENCE ACT CAP 80 OF THE LAWS OF KENYA
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE ACT, CAP 21 OF THE LAWS OF KENYA
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NYABICHA NYANGUTE..........THE MISSIING PERSON
RULING
1. By an Originating Summons dated the 11th of January 2018 brought under Order 37 Rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010 and Sections 118 A of the Evidence Act Cap 80 of the Laws of Kenya the Applicant Janes Nyanduko Obwanga hereinafter referred to as the Applicant,seeks for orders that;
i. The Court be pleased to make an order that Nyabicha Nyangutebe presumed dead.
ii. That the costs of the application be provided for.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of the applicant together with the affidavits of Nason Mairura Kegoro andJapheth Ambrose Maiko. The applicant is the widow of a nephew of the missing person Nyabicha Nyangute. Her late husband was David Obwanga Omwame who was the only child of his parents who are also deceased. The applicant’s late father in law was Omwame Nyangute who was the registered owner of land parcel No. South Mugirango/ Bogetenga/852. Nyabicha Nyangute was a brother to her father in law and he was the registered owner of the adjoining piece of land registered as South Mugirango/ Bogetenga/851. The applicant avers that she married her late husband in the year 1970 and they lived together in parcel no. 852. Her husband died on the 15th of November 1998. They lived in parcel no. 852 and have been in exclusive possession of the adjoining parcel 851. That Nyabicha Nyangute left for Tanzania in the late 1960’s as a young man and single and has never been seen heard of and or come back home. The applicant depones that has since 1970 when she married in the family she has not seen the said Nyabicah Nyangute. That it has been over 50 years. She depones further that she has been advised by her advocate that she cannot commence any proceedings on L.R. South / Mugirango/ Bogetenga/ 851 against 3rd parties unless she applies to the court to have Nyabicha Nyangute presumed dead so that she can take out a letters of administration over his estate.
3. Nason Mairura Kegorodeposed that the applicant is his sister in law and he is now 73 years old. That Nyabicha Nyangute was his uncle, Nyabicha left home in 1960 for Tanzania and has never returned home and his whereabouts are not known nor has he been seen since the said date. Japheth Ambrose Maiko depones that the applicant is his sister in law, her late husband was his cousin. He is 59 years old. That he came to know Nyabicha Nyangute who is missing as his cousin because parcel no. South/ Mugirango/ Bogetenga/ 851 which was set aside for him and registered in his name is still intact on the ground and the same is in the user and occupation of the applicant as the successor of her late husband David Obwanga Omwame. He confirms that Nyabicha has not returned home since 1960 nor has he been seen by any family members.
4. From the facts as deposed in the 3 affidavits in support of the application Nyabicha Nyangute has been missing from the time he left his home in 1960. Section 118A of the Evidence Act Cap 80 Laws of Kenyastates that:-
“Where it is proved that a person has not been heard of for seven yearsby those who might be expected to have heard of him if he were alive there shall be a rebuttable presumption that he is dead.”
5. It is 50 years since Nyabicha Nyangute left his home. The applicant and her in laws who are persons who are expected to have heard from Nyabicha have not heard from him. There is no one who is asserting anything to the contrary that Nyabicha is still alive. 50 years is a long time for one not to return home. On can safely presume that Nyabicha is dead, as he has never returned home. I allow the application dated the 11th of January 2018 and declare as follows:-
i. That Nyabicha Nyangute and is hereby presumed dead.
ii. Costs in the cause. It is so ordered.
Dated signed and delivered this 6th Day of July 2018
R.E.OUGO
JUDGE
In the presence of:
.................For the Applicant
Rael Court Clerk