[2021] KEELC 62 (KLR)

Source-derived case information.

Citation: [2021] KEELC 62 (KLR)
Parties: Plaintiff: Matei Mulili Julius Ndeti & Nzioki Mulili Ndeti (Suing as the administrators of the estate of the late Harrison Mulili Ndeti); Plaintiff: Syokwia Kiilu Ndeti & Somba Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Julius Kiilu Ndeti); Plaintiff: Gregory Mutheke Ndeti & John Ndeti Mutheke (Administrators of the Estate of the late Mutheke Mutua Ndeti); Plaintiff: Urbanus Kioko Ndeti & Boniface Nthiw’a Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Alphonse Nthiw’a Ndeti); Defendant: Alex Kiilu Ndeti & Esther Waquo (Administrators of the Estate of the late Patrick Mutheke Ndeti); Defendant: Raphael Musyoki Ndeti (Administrator of the Estate of the late Peter Nzuki Ndeti); Defendant: Cecilia Situmai Ndeti & Michael Kyende Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Professor Kivuto Ndeti)
Court: Environment and Land Court
Court Station: Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction: Kenya
Case Number: Environment & Land Case 1116 of 2015
Procedural Posture: Notice of Motion / Ruling on Application to Strike Out Amended Plaint
Outcome: application dismissed
Judges: LC Komingoi
Legal Topics: Striking Out Pleadings, Jurisdiction of Court, Succession Disputes, Administration of Estates
Source Language: en

Land and Property Civil Procedure Striking Out Pleadings Jurisdiction of Court Succession Disputes Administration of Estates

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Parties

Matei Mulili Julius Ndeti & Nzioki Mulili Ndeti (Suing as the administrators of the estate of the late Harrison Mulili Ndeti)

Plaintiff

Syokwia Kiilu Ndeti & Somba Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Julius Kiilu Ndeti)

Plaintiff

Gregory Mutheke Ndeti & John Ndeti Mutheke (Administrators of the Estate of the late Mutheke Mutua Ndeti)

Plaintiff

Urbanus Kioko Ndeti & Boniface Nthiw’a Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Alphonse Nthiw’a Ndeti)

Plaintiff

Alex Kiilu Ndeti & Esther Waquo (Administrators of the Estate of the late Patrick Mutheke Ndeti)

Defendant

Raphael Musyoki Ndeti (Administrator of the Estate of the late Peter Nzuki Ndeti)

Defendant

Cecilia Situmai Ndeti & Michael Kyende Ndeti (Administrators of the Estate of the late Professor Kivuto Ndeti)

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Notice of Motion / Ruling on Application to Strike Out Amended Plaint

Legal Issues

1 Whether the amended plaint should be struck out as incompetent or an abuse of court process.
2 Whether the Environment and Land Court has jurisdiction over disputes involving succession and administration of estates.
3 Whether the plaintiffs' claims should be ventilated through the Law of Succession Act or before this court.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the application to strike out the amended plaint lacked merit. While the applicant argued that the plaintiffs' claims should be pursued under the Law of Succession Act, the court determined that it was in the interest of justice for the matter to proceed to full hearing. The court held that the plaintiffs should be allowed to ventilate their claims, and that the issues raised required substantive examination rather than summary dismissal at the interlocutory stage. The application was therefore dismissed, with no orders as to costs.

Court Disposition

application dismissed

Orders

The application dated 22nd April 2021 is dismissed.
No orders as to costs.

Full Case Text

Judgment text and source record

48 paragraphs

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT

AT NAIROBI

ELC CASE NO. 1116 OF 2015

MATEI MULILI JULIUS NDETI & NZIOKI MULILI NDETI(Suing as theadministrators

of the estate of the lateHARRISON MULILI NDETI (Deceased)............1ST PLAINTIFF

SYOKWIA KIILU NDETI & SOMBA NDETI(Administrators of the Estate of the late

JULIUS KIILU NDETI (Deceased)..................................................................2ND PLAINTIFF

GREGORY MUTHEKE NDETI & JOHN NDETI MUTHEKE(Administrators of the

Estate of the lateMUTHEKE MUTUA NDETI (Deceased)..........................3RD PLAINTIFF

URBANUS KIOKO NDETI & BONIFACE NTHIW’A NDETI (Administrators of the

Estateof the lateALPHONSE NTHIW’A NDETI (Deceased).....................4TH PLAINTIFF

ALEX KIILU NDETI & ESTHER WAQUO(Administrators of the Estate of the late

PATRICK MUTHEKE NDETI (Deceased)..................................................5TH DEFENDANT

- VERSUS -

RAPHAEL MUSYOKI NDETI(Administrators of the Estate of the latePETER

NZUKI NDETI (Deceased)..............................................................................1ST DEFENDANT

CECILIA SITUMAI NDETI & MICHAEL KYENDE NDETI (Administrators of the

Estateof the late PROFESSOR KIVUTO NDETI (Deceased)................2ND DEFENDANT

RULING

1. This is the Notice of Motion dated 22nd April 2021 brought under order 2 rule 15(1)(b)(c)(d), order 4 rule 1(2) and (3), order 51 rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010, section 6 and 7 of the Civil Procedure Act, section 2(1) and (2) of the law of Succession Act, Cap 160 Laws of Kenya.

2. It seeks orders:-

1. The Plaintiffs Amended Plaint dated 15th February 2021 be struck out.

2. The costs of the suit and this application be awarded to the named 2nd Defendant.

3. The grounds are on the face of the application and are set out in paragraphs (i) to (x).

4. The application is supported by the affidavit of Michael Kyende Ndeti, the 2nd Defendant herein sworn on the 22nd April 2021.

5. The application is opposed. There is a replying affidavit sworn by Somba Ndeti, one of the Administrators of the estate of the late Julius Kiilu Ndeti, the 2nd Plaintiff herein sworn on the 8th June 2021.

6. It appears the other Respondents did not file any responses to the application.

7. The court directed that the application be canvassed by way of written submissions.

8. I have considered the notice of motion and the affidavit in support. I have also the replying affidavit, the written submissions filed on behalf of the parties and the authorities cited. The issue for determination is whether this application is merited.

9. It is the 2nd Defendant’s/Applicants case that the Plaintiffs/Respondents claim is that the named deceased persons jointly acquired properties as Ndeti family or in a partnership or through a limited liability company. That the beneficiaries can only lay claim or seek to enforce the Agreement through the Law of Succession Act.

10. The Plaintiffs/Respondents on the other hand contend that this court is the one with jurisdiction to hear the dispute herein. Further that the subject matter did not arise during the process of administration of the estate of Kivuto Ndeti hence the application of rule 4(3) of the Probate and Administration Rule does not apply in any way on this case.

11. Section 2 (1) of the Law of Succession Act, Cap 160 Laws of Kenya provides that:-

“Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or any other written law, the provisions of this Act shall constitute the law of Kenya in respect of, and shall have universal application to, all cases of intestate or testamentary succession to the estates of deceased persons dying after, the commencement of this Act and to the administration of estates of those persons.”

Rule 4(3) of the Probate and Administration Rules provides that:-

“Where any such notice is received from a district registry the principal registry shall examine all other notices of applications for grants received from the several district registries and all application for grants at the principal registry so far as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining whether an application for a grant in respect of the estate of that deceased person has been made in more registries than one, and shall communicate with each district registrar as occasion may require in relation thereto.”

12. I have considered the rival submissions. It is in the interest of justice that this matter proceeds to full hearing so that the Plaintiffs can ventilate their claims.

13. I find no merit in the application and the same is dismissed with no orders as to costs.

It is so ordered.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI ON THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2021

……………………….

L. KOMINGOI

JUDGE

In the presence of:-

Mr. Muindi for the Plaintiffs

Mr. Mikwa for Mr. Gitonga for the 1st Defendant

Ms Ikonge for Mr. Bundotich for the 2nd Defendant

Steve - Court Assistant

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