[2007] KEHC 222 (KLR)
The court found that the protest against confirmation of the grant was duly heard and determined, resulting in a court order for equal sharing of the deceased's asset. The applicants failed to establish any grounds under Section 76 of the Law of Succession Act to warrant revocation of the confirmed grant. Any...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] KEHC 222 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Joyce Ngima Njeru; Applicant: Daniel Njue Njeru; Respondent: Ann Wambeti Njue
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Embu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- ? 40 of 2001
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Revocation of Grant
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Revocation of Grant, Confirmation of Grant, Distribution of Estate
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Joyce Ngima Njeru
Applicant
Daniel Njue Njeru
Applicant
Ann Wambeti Njue
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Revocation of Grant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the grant issued and confirmed on 24/8/1994 should be revoked on grounds of defectiveness, fraud, concealment of material facts, or subsequent circumstances rendering it inoperative.
- 2 Whether the confirmation proceedings were defective or obtained by fraud or untrue allegations.
- 3 Whether any irregularities in the confirmation ruling should be addressed by appeal rather than revocation.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the protest against confirmation of the grant was duly heard and determined, resulting in a court order for equal sharing of the deceased's asset. The applicants failed to establish any grounds under Section 76 of the Law of Succession Act to warrant revocation of the confirmed grant. Any alleged irregularities in the confirmation process should have been addressed through an appeal, which was not pursued. The court concluded that there was no basis for revoking the grant issued to Daniel Njue Njeru and Obadiah Muriuki Njeru, and the application for revocation was dismissed.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for revocation of grant is dismissed.
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT AT EMBU
MiSC SUCCESSION APPLICATION 40 of 2001
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF NJERU M’ITEWA…...................… (DCD)
JOYCE NGIMA NJERU……………………………………..……..1ST APPLICANT
DANIEL NJUE NJERU…………………………………….………2ND APPLICANT
VERSUS
ANN WAMBETI NJUE………………………………………...…...RESPONDENT
RULING
These proceedings arise out of Succession case in respect of the estate of Njeru M’Itewa who died on 16/11/1990.
A grant was issued and confirmed on 24/8/1994. This application is seeking orders to revoke the said grant issued to Anna Wambeti Njue and Joyce Ngima on the grounds set out in the application namely:-
1. the proceedings to confirm the grant were defective in substance.
2. that the confirmation was obtained fraudulently by the making of false statement or by concealment from the court of something material to the case.
3. that the confirmation of the grant was obtained by means of untrue allegation of fact essential in point of law to justify the grant not withstanding that the allegation was made in ignorance or in advertently
4. That the confirmed grant has become in operative and useless through subsequent circumstances.
The grant was nevertheless issued to the sons of deceased.
1. Daniel Njeru and
2. Obadiah Muriuki Njeru on 25/3/1994.
Before the expiry of period prescribed for confirmation of the Grant Anne Wambeti filed a protest against confirmation of the grant. The protest was heard by court and ruling made on 24/8/1994. The result was that the deceased asset Plot No. Ngandori/Kiriari/2295 was to be shared equally between Applicants/Petitioners and the Objectors.
Thereafter on 24/8/1994 the grant was confirmed and assets distributed according to the court order. The land parcel Ngandori/Kiriari/2295 was subdivided into two portions; Ngandori/Kiriari/3721 for Anna Wambeti Protestor and parcel No. 3722 for Njeru M’Itewa. The grant which was issued Obadiah Muriuki Njeru and Daniel Njue Njeru cannot be revoked as no grounds have been shown to warrant such an order. There are on record some documents by James Nyaga and Benson Nyaga objecting to making a grant of representation on the petition of Obadiah Muriuki and Daniel Njue Njeru but there is no record of any orders made in this respect.
It is my finding that the protest on confirmation or grant was decided upon by the courts and no appeal has been made against the Ruling of the court. Any irregularities in the ruling should have been challenged in an appeal. The confirmation order was that land be shared between the Petitioners Daniel and Obadiah Muriuki and their mother Joyce Ngima Njeru (widow of deceased) and Ann Wambeti. The upshot is that the court finds there is no ground laid out to warrant revocation of the grant issued to Daniel Njue Njeru and Obadiah Muriuki Njeru. There is evidence that the Obadiah is now deceased. The administratior of the Estate is now Daniel Njue Njeru. This application is therefore dismissed with no order as to
costs since the matter involved families.
Dated this 10th May, 2007.
J. N. KHAMINWA
JUDGE
10/5/2007
Khaminwa –Judge
Njue –Clerk
Daniel Njue- Applicant present in person
Ann Wambeti Njue- Respondent present in person.
Read in open court on 10/5/2007.
J. N. KHAMINWA
JUDGE