[2023] KEMC 21 (KLR)

MAA v SAI (Divorce Cause E688 of 2022) [2023] KEMC 21 (KLR) (29 November 2023) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEMC 21 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Milimani Commercial Chief Magistrate's Courts

Divorce Cause E688 of 2022

JP Aduke, SRM

November 29, 2023

Between

MAA

Petitioner

and

SAI

Respondent

Judgment

1. The Petitioner filed the petition dated June 7, 2022 seeking a divorce on the grounds of cruelty, adultery and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Return of service on record shows that the respondent was served with the petition and annexures thereto. The respondent entered appearance and filed an answer to the petition. These proceedings proceeded defended.

2. The brief facts of the case are as contained in the petition and answer to petition on record. In summary, MAA and SAI solemnized their marriage in Kenya on October 16, 2019 at the Office of the Attorney General. Both the respondent and the petitioner are domiciled in Kenya. The parties have no intentions of salvaging this marriage. The particulars of the grounds for divorce are outlined in the petition and answer to petition as follows:1. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;2. Cruelty;3. Adultery;

3. At the hearing thereof, the petitioner relied on the petition and pleadings on record as evidence in support of the petition for divorce. Notably, the petitioner averred that the contents of the petition remained true as at the date of the hearing. The petitioner prayed that the petition be allowed as prayed. The respondent did not testify on the date of the hearing, and was absent in spite of service of process.

4. The issue for determination before this court is whether or not the marriage between the parties merits an order of divorce under The Marriage Act, 2014 (hereafter, the Act).

5. The applicable law is s.66 of the Act (dissolution of Civil Marriages) which provides that the court may grant separation or divorce on the following grounds:1. adultery by the other spouse;2. cruelty by the other spouse;3. exceptional depravity by the other spouse;4. desertion by the other spouse for at least 3 years;5. the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

6. I have considered the particulars of the grounds outlined in the petition and the answer to petition and how those have contributed to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as contemplated under s.66 of the Act. I have also noted the length of physical separation of the couple herein, the high levels of antagonism between the parties and relied on the reasoning of the court in JSM vs ENB[2015]. With respect to intention to salvage the union, I have noted the unequivocal terms of the Petition and Answer to Petition on lack of such intention. The reasoning of the court in ROK v MJB [2017] eKLR and TPH v NVS [2017] eklr cannot be emphasized enough-“marriage is a voluntary union……this court cannot by any means order or compel the parties to remain married when the petitioner has categorically stated that she wants the same dissolved…” Seeing as this court cannot force two adults to live together when there is no more love between them, I allow the Petition dated 07th June 2022 on the following terms:1. the marriage between the two be and is hereby dissolved.2. Decree nisi do issue to be made absolute in 30 days.3. This being a family matter, each party to bear their own costs.

JUDGEMENT SIGNED AT NAIROBI THIS 29TH NOVEMBER 2023 IN THE PRESENCE/ABSENCE OF THE PARTIES AT 12PM.ADUKE JEAL PRAXADES ATIENOSENIOR RESIDENT MAGISTRATEIn the presence of :Court Assistant: BENJAMIN KOMBE