[2006] KEHC 301 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, Mary Akisa Oricho, failed to disclose all beneficiaries of the deceased's estate by omitting the children of her late sister, Domtilla Amokolo. This omission constituted material non-disclosure. Section 66 of the Law of Succession Act requires that all persons entitled in the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2006] KEHC 301 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Mary Akisa Oricho; Deceased: Simon Oricho Omerekeke
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Busia
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- ? 95 of 2005
- Procedural Posture
- Probate and Administration / Ruling on Revocation of Grant
- Outcome
- grant revoked; leave to file fresh application granted
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Grant of Letters of Administration, Priority of Beneficiaries, Material Non Disclosure
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mary Akisa Oricho
Applicant
Simon Oricho Omerekeke
Deceased
Procedural Posture
Probate and Administration / Ruling on Revocation of Grant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant failed to disclose all beneficiaries entitled to the estate of the deceased.
- 2 Whether the grant issued should be revoked due to material non-disclosure.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, Mary Akisa Oricho, failed to disclose all beneficiaries of the deceased's estate by omitting the children of her late sister, Domtilla Amokolo. This omission constituted material non-disclosure. Section 66 of the Law of Succession Act requires that all persons entitled in the order of priority be included in the application for grant of representation. The court held that the omission was fatal to the application and, in the interest of justice, revoked the grant previously issued. The court further directed that a fresh application be filed jointly by Mary Akisa and Domtilla Amokolo (or her representatives), ensuring all beneficiaries are included.
Court Disposition
grant revoked; leave to file fresh application granted
Orders
- The grant issued on 31st January 2006 is revoked.
- Leave is granted for filing of a fresh application in the joint names of Mary Akisa and Domtilla Amokolo.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUSIA
Prob & Admin 95 of 2005
MARY AKISA ORICHO……………………………..APPLICANT
AND
SIMON ORICHO OMEREKEKE…..……...………...DECEASED
RULING
Mary Akisa, the applicant, is the daughter of Simon Oricho Omekeke who died on 20th December 1984.
According to Mary Akisa’s evidence, on oath, the deceased was survived by herself (Mary Akisa) and her sister Domtilla Amokolo. Domtilla died in 1984 and was survived by five (5) children, namely James Ouma, Damol Erite, Patrick Odema and James Ethamalina.
Mary Akisa has two children. She included the name of one of them: James Ekamiran but excluded all the children of Domtilla Amokolol.
Section 66 of the Law of Succession Act lists in a hierachical order the persons to whom grant of representation in intestacy can be made to. The surviving spouse has priority in applying for and being granted letters of administration. Ranking second in priority are the surviving children of the deceased Simon Oricho Omerekeke who in this case are Mary Akisa, the applicant and Domtillah Amokolol.
Domtilla and her children have not been included as beneficiaries in these proceedings. Accordingly, I find as a matter of law that the application is riddled with material non-disclosure. In the interest of justice, I revoke the grant issued on 31st January 2006 and grant leave for filing of a fresh application in the joint names of Mary Akisa and Domtila Amokolol.
DATED and DELIVERED at Busia this 27th day of November, 2006.
N.R.O. OMBIJA
JUDGE
Delivered in the presence of Mary Akisa Oricho the applicant.