[2015] KEHC 6620 (KLR)
The court found that the petitioner had established, on a balance of probabilities, that the respondent was guilty of cruelty and desertion. The evidence presented by the petitioner was unchallenged and detailed acts of emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The respondent's absence and failure to...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 6620 (KLR)
- Parties
- Petitioner: N V S; Respondent: M K G S
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Divorce Cause 151 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Divorce Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- petition allowed; marriage dissolved
- Judges
- REA Ougo
- Legal Topics
- Divorce, Cruelty, Desertion, Custody of Child
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
N V S
Petitioner
M K G S
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Divorce Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the respondent treated the petitioner with cruelty sufficient to warrant dissolution of marriage.
- 2 Whether the respondent deserted the petitioner, justifying the grant of divorce.
- 3 Whether the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the petitioner had established, on a balance of probabilities, that the respondent was guilty of cruelty and desertion. The evidence presented by the petitioner was unchallenged and detailed acts of emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The respondent's absence and failure to participate in the proceedings further supported the petitioner's case. The court concluded that the marriage had irretrievably broken down and that there was no prospect of reconciliation. Accordingly, the court granted the dissolution of the marriage and ordered the issuance of a decree nisi to be made absolute within 30 days.
Court Disposition
petition allowed; marriage dissolved
Orders
- The marriage between the petitioner and respondent solemnized on 27th July 2009 is dissolved.
- A decree nisi to issue and to be made absolute within 30 days.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
DIVORCE CAUSE NO. 151 OF 2014
N V S.................................PETITIONER
VERSUS
M K G S………….….RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
The Petitioner N V S has filed a petition dated 4th July 2014 seeking the dissolution of her marriage to the Respondent M K G S. She avers that on the 27th day of July 2009, they celebrated and solemnized their marriage at Jamnagar India, that subsequent to the foresaid celebration and solemnization of the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent, the parties cohabited and maintained residence together as man and wife in Kericho within the Republic of Kenya for a period of approximately six (6) years. That there is one issue of the marriage, S M S aged 4 years, that since the celebration of the marriage, the respondent has exhibited to and treatment the petitioner with extreme cruelty. The Petitioner’s grounds are;
Particulars of cruelty.
Failing to provide the petitioner with any or at all emotional support, love and care.
Failing to offer the Petitioner any or at all modicum of consortium and society as would be a reasonable expectation in any union of marriage.
The respondent’s continued neglect of the Petitioner feelings and desires has and continues to expose the petitioner to great emotional distress which scenario is severely detrimental to the petitioner’swell-being.
The respondent has willfully and without any reasonable cause or justification chosen to abdicate his spousal responsibilities to provide for the petitioner without any due regard to the petitioner’s well being.
Failing to be open, warm and accommodative to the petitioner and in effect implicitly maintaining an emotional and psychological distance from the petitioner.
Failing to show any or at all concern and/or empathy to the petitioner’s emotional needs from love and companionship and in effect denying the petitioner his marital rights to companionship.
Failing to render to the petitioner any or at all reasonable, necessary and acceptable level of conjugal rights.
Being secretive, isolated, withdrawn and a man of ungovernable temperament and as such an unworthy companion.
The Respondent has exhibited utmost contempt and disrespect towards the petitioner.
The petitioner has been forced to become a social recluse by the respondent’s behavior.
That the respondent on diverse dates has been cruel to the petitioner subjecting the petitioner to actual bodily harm and assault without reasonable cause.
That the respondent has used foul language against the petitioner and has used threatening language in the presence of relatively and public without any justifiable cause.
That the respondent has on several occasions threatened the petitioner with undisclosed dire consequence.
Particulars of desertion
That on or about the 22nd of January 2010 the respondent deserted the matrimonial home and has not been back since them.
The Petitioner testified that whilst married to the Respondent he would not allow her to talk to anyone; she was not allowed to cook wash dishes or do any work. That when she was pregnant he kept checking her weight, the Respondent had problems with her eating and many times she went without food. That she was brought to Nairobi when she was 7 months pregnant, she was made to stay in a guest house and he paid the accommodation but after she delivered he did not pay anything and neither has he contacted her since 2010.
It is evident that the Petitioner went through tough times during her marriage with the Respondent, she was affected emotionally and further the Respondent chose to leave the marriage. The Petitioner evidence has not been challenged. She pleads that at no time did she condone or was an assessor to the acts of cruelty. The marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent has irretrievably breakdown and the same is untenable and cannot be salvaged and/or sustained. The petitioner testified that there is a case in the Children’s Court Case No. 888 of 2010 she has been granted custody of their child. This court therefore dissolves the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent solemnized on the 27th of July 2009. A decree nisi to issue and to be made absolute within 30 days. It is so ordered.
Dated signed and delivered this 29th Day of January 2015.
R. E OUGO
JUDGE
In the presence of:
………………………………………………………..……….Petitioner
……………………………………………….………………Respondent
…………………………………………………….………..Court Clerk