[2024] KEHC 14552 (KLR)
The court determined that, for procedural fairness and to ensure all parties are heard, the applicant/respondent (Lucy Wangeci) should be granted leave to file and serve a response and written submissions in respect to the Notice of Motion application dated 28th October, 2024. The respondent/applicant (Mary Mwende)...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEHC 14552 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Lucy Wangeci Mutahi; Respondent: Mary Mwende Wanyoike
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kiambu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Probate & Administration E124 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Probate and Administration / Directions on Interlocutory Applications
- Outcome
- Directions issued; no final determination on the merits of the applications.
- Judges
- DO Chepkwony
- Legal Topics
- Succession Proceedings, Administration of Estate, Injunctive Relief, Contempt of Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Lucy Wangeci Mutahi
Applicant
Mary Mwende Wanyoike
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Probate and Administration / Directions on Interlocutory Applications
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether injunctive orders should be granted over the deceased's property pending determination of the succession cause.
- 2 Whether the applicant/respondent is in contempt of court orders issued on 23rd October, 2024.
- 3 Whether the court should order the return of personal property and access to bank accounts as sought in the application dated 28th October, 2024.
Ratio Decidendi
The court determined that, for procedural fairness and to ensure all parties are heard, the applicant/respondent (Lucy Wangeci) should be granted leave to file and serve a response and written submissions in respect to the Notice of Motion application dated 28th October, 2024. The respondent/applicant (Mary Mwende) is correspondingly granted leave to file a further affidavit if necessary. The court scheduled a mention for highlighting submissions on all three pending applications. The court declined to issue prayers 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the application dated 28th October, 2024 at this stage, as the applicant/respondent had not yet filed a response. The court emphasized the need for orderly...
Court Disposition
Directions issued; no final determination on the merits of the applications.
Orders
- The applicant/respondent (Lucy Wangeci) is granted leave to file and serve response and written submissions in respect to the Notice of Motion application dated 28th October, 2024.
- The respondent/applicant (Mary Mwende) is granted corresponding leave of 14 days to file a further affidavit if necessary.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
Mutahi (Suing as the Administratrix of the Estate of Andrew Muthee Wanyoike - Deceased) v Wanyoike (Probate & Administration E124 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 14552 (KLR) (15 November 2024) (Directions)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 14552 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Kiambu
Probate & Administration E124 of 2023
DO Chepkwony, J
November 15, 2024
Between
Lucy Wangeci Mutahi (Suing as the Administratrix of the Estate of Andrew Muthee Wanyoike - Deceased)
Applicant
and
Mary Mwende Wanyoike
Respondent
Directions
1. In this cause, there are three(3) applications pending determination. They are:-a.The Summons General dated 18th April, 2024 filed by the Applicant (Lucy Wangeci), seeking Injunctive orders on the property of the Deceased being Kiamumbi/Mun-Block 5 (Kiamumbi) 1688, an account on all rental income, usage of the funds from the income generated to utilized to pay for education and upkeep of the deceased’s school going children.
2. This application has been opposed by the Replying Affidavit by Mary Mwenda Wanyoike sworn on 14th May, 2024. The Applicant filed his submissions dated 10th June, 2024 whereas the Respondent filed hers dated 14th June, 2024.
3. The Applicant filed his submissions dated 10th June, 2024, while the Respondent filed hers dated 14th June, 2024.
4. Before the application could be determined, the Respondent(Mary Mwende) filed a Notice of Motion application dated 22nd October, 2024 seeking injunctive orders on the deceased’s property known as Kiamumbi/Mun Block 5 (Kiamumbi) 1688 and release of Motor Vehicle No. KBQ 230Q. It was opposed through a Replying Affidavit of Lucy Wangeci sworn on 5th November, 2024. The Applicant has filed written submissions dated 4th November, 2024.
5. The Respondent filed yet another Notice of Motion application dated 28th October, 2024 urging the court to find the Applicant/Respondent to be in contempt of the court orders issued on 23rd October, 2024 and for her to be committed to civil jail for six months. The Applicant has similarly filed her submissions dated 4th November, 2024.
6. When the matter came up for inter parties hearing on 13th November, 2024, the counsel for the parties addressed the court. The Respondent’s/ Applicant’s counsel has urged the court to allow the application dated 28th October, 2024 as prayed since it is unopposed. The Applicant/Respondent’s Counsel then informed the court that he came on record on 5th November, 2024 and has filed a response to the application dated 22nd October, 2024. He went on to submit that the was in the process of filing submissions when he was served with the application dated 28th October, 2024. He has urged the court to address the applications by way of viva voce so that there will be a chance for cross examination.
7. In rejoinder, the Respondent’s/Applicant’s counsel urged the court to grant Prayers Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the application since his client is living on borrowed clothes and is unable to access her bank account since all her personal documents were taken away by the Applicant/Respondent. He thus prays that the court orders the return of the Applicant’s personal property as there was an order for status quo issued by the court.
8. For tidiness in the proceedings, the following Directions are issued in respect to the disposal of the three applications:-a.The Applicant/Respondent (Lucy Wangeci) is hereby granted leave to file and serve response and written submissions in respect to the Notice of Motion application dated 28th October, 2024. b.The Respondent/Applicant (Mary Mwende) is hereby granted corresponding leave of 14 days to file Further Affidavit if need be.c.The matter shall then be mentioned for Highlighting of submissions in respect of all the three(3) applications dated 18th April, 2024, 22nd October, 2024 and 28th October, 2024 on 17th December, 2024. d.The court declines to issue Prayers Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the application dated 28th October, 2024 since the Applicant/ Respondent is yet to file a response to the application.It is so ordered.
RULING DATED AND SIGNED AT KIAMBU THIS 15TH DAY OF NOVEMBER , 2024. (UPLOADED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL)D. O. CHEPKWONYJUDGE