[2015] KEHC 1330 (KLR)
The court determined that the estate property, LR. NO. NYAKI/THUURA/1235, should be sub-divided in accordance with the professional surveyor's report by Gatome & Associates dated 21/10/2014. This report was found to be more reliable as it was based on the official land size from the Land Registry (1.0 Ha), provided...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 1330 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: M'Etonga M'Ruuti; Applicant: Naomi Mutire Thuranira; Respondent: Stephen Mwithia M'Ruuti
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 403 of 2006
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate
- Outcome
- Estate property to be sub-divided and distributed as per the Gatome & Associates surveyor's report dated 21/10/2014.
- Judges
- F Gikonyo
- Legal Topics
- Succession Distribution, Estate Administration, Land Subdivision
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
M'Etonga M'Ruuti
Applicant
Naomi Mutire Thuranira
Applicant
Stephen Mwithia M'Ruuti
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Distribution of Estate
Legal Issues
- 1 How should LR. NO. NYAKI/THUURA/1235 be sub-divided among the beneficiaries of the deceased's estate.
- 2 Which surveyor's report should guide the sub-division of the estate property.
Ratio Decidendi
The court determined that the estate property, LR. NO. NYAKI/THUURA/1235, should be sub-divided in accordance with the professional surveyor's report by Gatome & Associates dated 21/10/2014. This report was found to be more reliable as it was based on the official land size from the Land Registry (1.0 Ha), provided for equitable access to both portions, and was supported by all beneficiaries except the petitioner, who failed to file his own report or appear in court. The court was guided by the prior consent of the parties for a 2/3 to 1/3 split and the need for expeditious and fair resolution. The court exercised its discretion to rely on the documents and reports filed, given the...
Court Disposition
Estate property to be sub-divided and distributed as per the Gatome & Associates surveyor's report dated 21/10/2014.
Orders
- The sub-division of NYAKI/THUURA/1235 shall be done in accordance with the survey report by Gatome & Associates dated 21/10/2014 and the annexed Sketch Map thereto.
- The estate property shall be distributed in accordance with the above sub-division.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MERU
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 403 OF 2006
In the matter of the estate of M'Ruuti M'Mugambi alias Ruuti Mugambi
M'ETONGA M'RUUTI…………....…............ 1ST APPLICANT
NAOMI MUTIRE THURANIRA…..................2ND APPLICANT
Versus
STEPHEN MWITHIA M'RUUTI ..................... RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
Distribution of estate
[1] When this matter came up before Makau J. on 28/7/2014, parties agreed by consent that the land in issue i.e.LR. NO. NYAKI/THUURA/1235 shall be sub-divided into two portions, that is, 2/3and 1/3for the Applicants and Petitioner, respectively. Accordingly, Naomi Mutire Thuranira was to get 2/3of the entire portion whereas Stephen Mwithia M'Ruuti was to get 1/3 thereof. The court also ordered that each party appoints a surveyor to visit the said land and survey it into the above portions. Each surveyor was to file a report for consideration by the court. The matter came up before me on 6/10/2015. Mr. Kaumbi was present for petitioner and he informed the court that his client was yet to file a surveyor's report. He sought for time and the court allowed him one week to file the surveyor's report. The other parties had filed their surveyor's report already. But, on 21/10/2015 when this case was scheduled for directions before me, Mr. Kaumbi had not filed the surveyor's report. It is important to note that neither Mr. Kaumbi nor his client appeared in court on 21/10/2015. Naomi Thuranira and M'Etonga M'Ruuti attended court and insisted on expeditious resolution of this matter. The court noted these facts and directed that it shall give its decision based on the documents filed in court. This ruling is exactly on the manner the estate property herein shall be sub-divided.
[2] On record are two surveyor’s reports. One is by Thagishu & Associates. It is undated but it attached a Sketch Map sub-dividing NYAKI/THUURA/1235 as follows;
i) Portion A - 1. 73 acres
ii) Portion B - 0. 86 acres
The Report stated that the land measures approximately 1. 048 Ha. (equivalent of 2. 59 acres).
The other report is by Gatome & Associates. It is dated 21/10/2014. It annexed a Sketch Map sub-dividing NYAKI/THUURA/1235 as follows;
a) Portion A – 0. 83 acres which is 1/3 of the whole land and is undeveloped; and
b) Portion B – 1. 66 acres which is 2/3 of the total area and is developed with permanent building.
[3] From the documents filed in court, an extract from the record in the Land Registry for NYAKI/THUURA/1235 shows that the land measures approximately 1. 0 Ha. The Report by Gatome & Associates worked on 1. 0 Ha. It seems more reliable. It also provides access to both portions of land at two (2) points. The sub-division also seems to be supported by all the beneficiaries except the Petitioner. In the circumstances, and being guided by the professional surveys reports herein, I order that;
a) The sub-division of NYAKI/THUURA/1235 shall be done in accordance with the survey report by Gatome & Associates dated 21/10/2014 and the annexed Sketch Map thereto.
b) Accordingly, the estate property shall be distributed in accordance with (a) above.
Dated, Signed and Delivered in court at Meru this 9th day of November 2015
-----------------------------------------
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Igweta for Kaumbi for petitioner
Naomi Thuranira – present
M’Etonga M’Ruuti – present
Court – Ruling delivered in open court.
-----------------------------------------
F. GIKONYO
JUDGE