[2014] KEHC 4937 (KLR)
The court found that there was merit in the application for stay because if the confirmed grant were implemented before the revocation application was determined, any orders made on the revocation application could be rendered academic. The court considered the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEHC 4937 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Applicant (Name not stated); Respondent: Respondent (Name not stated)
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 2180 of 2008
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Interlocutory Application for Stay Pending Revocation Hearing
- Outcome
- Application for stay granted pending hearing and determination of revocation application.
- Judges
- DN Musyoka
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Revocation of Grant, Customary Law Marriage
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Applicant (Name not stated)
Applicant
Respondent (Name not stated)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Interlocutory Application for Stay Pending Revocation Hearing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the implementation of the confirmed grant should be stayed pending determination of the revocation application.
- 2 Whether the applicant, allegedly married to the deceased under Kikuyu customary law, was unlawfully excluded from the succession proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that there was merit in the application for stay because if the confirmed grant were implemented before the revocation application was determined, any orders made on the revocation application could be rendered academic. The court considered the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and ensure that the applicant's claims, including her alleged status as a spouse under Kikuyu customary law, could be properly adjudicated. Accordingly, the court ordered a stay of implementation of the confirmed grant and directed that the relevant court file be availed to facilitate the hearing of the revocation application.
Court Disposition
Application for stay granted pending hearing and determination of revocation application.
Orders
- Stay of implementation of the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 22nd November 2006 issued in Thika CMCSC No. 566 of 2005 pending hearing and determination of the revocation application.
- Thika court file in Thika Cause No. 566 of 2005 to be availed for the purposes of the pending revocation application.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 2180 OF 2008
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JEMIMA WANJIKU MUNYUA – (DECEASED)
RULING
1. This cause commenced on 17th September 2008 when an application was filed herein seeking revocation of the grant made in Thika CMCSC No. 566 of 2005. The said grant was confirmed on 22nd November 2006.
2. The revocation application is grounded on allegations that the said grant was obtained fraudently, there was concealment from court of material facts and that there were untrue allegations of fact. The applicant alleges to have been married to the deceased under the Kikuyu customary law arrangement of woman-to-woman marriage. She says that she was not disclosed in the petition for the grant.
3. She has now moved the court in an application dated 14th December 2012 asking for various restraining orders pending the hearing and determination of the revocation application. This application was placed before me on 7th May 2013 and I did gave restraining orders on temporary basis.
4. There is merit in this application. The grant in question was confirmed in 2006. The administrator must be seeking to implement the terms of the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 22nd November 2006, if she has not implemented the certificate already. If implementation is effected before the pending revocation application is disposed of, whatever orders are made by the on the revocation application court may be academic.
5. I am disposed to make the following orders:-
(a) That there be stay of the implementation of the terms of the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 22nd November 2006 issued in Thika CMCSC No. 566 of 2005 pending the hearing and determination of the revocation application filed herein and dated 15th September 2008;
(b) That the Thika court file in Thika Cause No. 566 of 2005 be availed for the purposes of the pending revocation application;
(c) That the Deputy Registrar is hereby ordered to give effect to (b) above;
(d) That this matter shall be mentioned after 30 days to confirm the availability of the Thika file.
DATED, SIGNED and DELIVERED at NAIROBI this 23rd DAY OF May 2014.
W. MUSYOKA
JUDGE
In the presence of Ms. Gakenia advocate for the applicant.
In the presence of Mr. Nyamuraga advocate for the respondent.