[2013] KEHC 3738 (KLR)
The court found that the rental income from the deceased's estate was not being properly remitted to the widow as previously agreed by the parties, due to family disagreements and the inability of the 3rd respondent to continue collecting rent. To safeguard the welfare of the widow and prevent further intermeddling...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 3738 (KLR)
- Parties
- Respondent: Jackson K. Sukali; Respondent: James M. Sukali; Respondent: Justus N. Sukali; Respondent: Maurice M. Sukali; Respondent: Charles M. Sukali; Applicant: Jennifer Judith N. Sukali; Applicant: Ruth K. Ndeti
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 67 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Interlocutory Application; Interim Orders Pending Hearing
- Outcome
- Interim orders granted pending hearing of the application.
- Judges
- BT Jaden
- Legal Topics
- Administration of Estates, Interim Injunctions, Management of Estate Property, Maintenance of Dependants
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Jackson K. Sukali
Respondent
James M. Sukali
Respondent
Justus N. Sukali
Respondent
Maurice M. Sukali
Respondent
Charles M. Sukali
Respondent
Jennifer Judith N. Sukali
Applicant
Ruth K. Ndeti
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Interlocutory Application; Interim Orders Pending Hearing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the rental income from the deceased's estate should be managed to ensure the welfare of the widow pending determination of the application.
- 2 Whether the respondents should be restrained from intermeddling with the estate property.
- 3 Whether an independent party should be appointed to collect and remit rental income for the benefit of the widow.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the rental income from the deceased's estate was not being properly remitted to the widow as previously agreed by the parties, due to family disagreements and the inability of the 3rd respondent to continue collecting rent. To safeguard the welfare of the widow and prevent further intermeddling or wastage of estate property, the court exercised its discretion to issue interim orders. These included discharging the 3rd respondent from rent collection duties, restraining all respondents from interfering with the estate properties, appointing an independent property manager (Ms Charton Properties) to collect and remit rental income, and directing that the income be used...
Court Disposition
Interim orders granted pending hearing of the application.
Orders
- The 3rd respondent, Justus N. Sukali, is discharged from collecting rent from Plot No. 8A, 8B and 8C (Maisha Kamili Building, Wote Township, Makueni County).
- Jackson K. Sukali, James M. Sukali, Justus N. Sukali, Maurice M. Sukali, and Charles M. Sukali are restrained from interfering with, intermeddling, wasting, managing, or collecting rent from the said properties.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
42 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Machakos
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IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE SIMON SUKALI MULINGE (DECEASED)
BETWEEN
1. JACKSON K. SUKALI
2. JAMES M. SUKALI
3. JUSTUS N. SUKALI
4. MAURICE M. SUKALI
5. CHARLES M. SUKALI ………………………………………………… CITEES
VERSUS
1. JENNIFER JUDITH N. SUKALI
2. RUTH K NDETI ………………………………………………………… CITORS
R U L I N G
The citation to accept or refuse letters of administration intestate was filed on 5/2/2013. The summons dated 4/2/2013 was filed under a certificate of urgency and was filed simultaneously with the citation on 5/2/2013.
The summons was fixed for hearing inter-partes on 12/2/2013 when the parties appeared before me.
From the submissions made before me on 12/2/2013, it came out clearly that plot No. 8A, 8B and 8C (Maisha Kamili Building) in Wote township form part of the estate of the deceased herein. It was also not in dispute that the rental income from the aforestated premises was supposed to be utilized in taking care of the widow of the deceased who is critically ill and requires treatment and medication.
Since all the parties herein were in agreement regarding the aforegoing issues, this court proceeded to make orders for the rental income from the aforestated premises to be collected by the 3rd citee Justus N. Sukali and remitted to the widow through her daughter, Jenniffer Judith N. Sukali on or before the 10th of every month with effect from March 2013.
The parties were to engage in negotiations on the way forward and inform the court accordingly during the mention date on 15/3/2013.
On 15/3/2013 it turned out that only Kshs.5,000/= had been collected and remitted to the widow of the deceased. It turned out that the 3rd citee who was to collect the rent had encountered difficulties due to disagreements between the family members. The 3rd citee requested the court to discharge him from the responsibility of collecting the rent.
Although counsel for citee No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 pointed out that they are yet to put their reply to the application dated 4/2/2013, it has now become imperative to make some interim orders pending the hearing and determination of the application inter partes. I say so because it is now apparent that the rental income is not being remitted to the widow of the deceased as agreed by the parties herein.
Based on the reasons stated in the certificate of urgency and the application dated 4/2/2013 and bearing in mind article 159 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, I make the following orders pending the hearing of the application inter- partes.
(i)The 3rd citee, Justus N. Sukali is hereby discharged from the responsibility of collecting rent from the premises on Plot No. 8A, 8B and 8C (Maisha Kamili Building, Wote Township, Makueni County).
(ii)Jackson K. Sukali, James M. Sukali, Justus N. Sukali, Maurice M. Sukali and Charles M Sukali are hereby restrained from interfering , intermeddling, wasting, managing or collecting rent from Plot No. 8A, 8B and 8C (Maisha Kamili Building, Wote Township, Makueni County.)
(iii)Ms ChartonPropertiesare hereby appointed to collect rent and/or other incomes and/or manage the premises on plot No. 8A, 8B and 8C (Maisha Kamili Building, Wote Township, Makueni County).
(iv)Ms ChartonProperties to remit the rental income collected from the aforestated properties to the widow of the deceased through the daughter, Jennifer Judith N. Sukali.
(v)The rental income to be utilized for the daily upkeep and welfare of the widow of the deceased.
(vi)The Respondents at liberty to file their replying affidavits in response to the application dated 4/2/2013.
(vii)Deputy Registrar to fix the application for hearing on a priority basis.
………………………………………
B. THURANIRA JADEN
JUDGE
Dated and delivered at Machakos this 19thday of March 2013.
………………………………………
B. THURANIRA JADEN
JUDGE