[2012] KEHC 1461 (KLR)
The court found that the Petitioner had established, on a balance of probabilities, that the Respondent had treated him with cruelty, including disrespect, denial of conjugal rights, condoning abuse by her son, and physical threats. The marriage had irretrievably broken down, and there was no evidence of condonation...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] KEHC 1461 (KLR)
- Parties
- Petitioner: NBA; Respondent: PQN
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Divorce Cause 82 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Divorce Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- petition allowed; marriage dissolved; costs to petitioner
- Judges
- DO Ogembo
- Legal Topics
- Dissolution of Marriage, Cruelty, Irretrievable Breakdown, Matrimonial Relations
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
NBA
Petitioner
PQN
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Divorce Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the marriage between the Petitioner and Respondent has irretrievably broken down.
- 2 Whether the Respondent treated the Petitioner with cruelty as alleged.
- 3 Whether the Petitioner is entitled to dissolution of marriage and costs.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Petitioner had established, on a balance of probabilities, that the Respondent had treated him with cruelty, including disrespect, denial of conjugal rights, condoning abuse by her son, and physical threats. The marriage had irretrievably broken down, and there was no evidence of condonation or connivance by the Petitioner. The Respondent did not contest the Petition or provide any evidence to the contrary. The court was satisfied that the grounds for dissolution of marriage had been met and that the Petitioner was entitled to the orders sought, including dissolution of the marriage and costs.
Court Disposition
petition allowed; marriage dissolved; costs to petitioner
Orders
- The marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent is hereby dissolved.
- Costs of this Petition and interest thereon shall be for the Petitioner.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
38 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
Divorce Cause 82 of 2012
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NBA:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::PETITIONER
- VERSUS -
PQN:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::RESPONDENT
J U D G M E N T
1. The Petition dated 4th May 2012seeks for orders that the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent be dissolved and that the Respondent do pay the costs of the Petition.
2. The Petitioner, then a bachelor married the Respondent then a Divorcee, on the 24th day of March 2004 under the Marriage Act Cap 150 and solemnized at the Registrar’s Office. The Petitioner and the Respondent both domiciled in the Republic of Kenya have co-habited at the S[............] Road, Nairobi during the existence of their marriage.
3. The Petitioner and the Respondent have no issues of the marriage.
4. It is the Petitioner’s case that during the existence of the marriage, the Respondent has treated him with cruelty and disrespect. The following is a summary of the particulars of cruelty as committed by the Respondent against the Petitioner:-
a)The Respondent has behaved towards the Petitioner without respect and has caused the Petitioner embarrassment on several occasions.
b)The Respondent has denied the Petitioner conjugal rights on several occasions.
c)The Respondent has either allowed and/or condoned the abuse to the Petitioner by the Respondent’s son from the previous marriage and the Respondent has stopped any form of discipline from the Petitioner to her said son.
d)The Respondent has treated the Petitioner without love and care and has made their communication impossible.
5. The Petitioner avers that the marriage herein has irretrievably broken down and any attempts to salvage the same have been futile. The Petitioner further avers that he has not in any way been an accessory to or connived at or condoned the Respondent’s acts of cruelty.
6. The Cause was undefended as the Respondent neither filed a Memorandum of Appearance nor did she file an answer to the Petition despite having been served with the said Petition and Notice to appear.
7. The matter came up for hearing on 20th September 2012 with the Petitioner providing the sole testimony on his behalf. The Petitioner reiterated his case as stated in the Petition. He confirmed that he married the Respondent on 24th March 2004 and referred the court to the Marriage Certificate attached to his Petition. He also confirmed that they had no children.
8. It was the Petitioner’s testimony that the marriage could not continue because of the cruelty. To this end he adopted the particulars of cruelty in his Petition. He testified that due to the cruelty, he had to move and stay with his mother. He averred that his wife had threatened him with a knife and that the wife was physically abusive. It was the Petitioner’s case that there was no chance of making up their marriage and that it could not work. He also testified that they had no property together with the Respondent.
9. The Petitioner urged the Court to dissolve the marriage between him and the Respondent.
10. I have considered the Petition herein as well as the testimony given by the Petitioner. As earlier noted this cause is undefended. I make orders as follows:-
a)The Petition is allowed and the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent is hereby dissolved.
b)Costs of this Petition and interest thereon shall be for the Petitioner.
It is so ordered.
DATED, READ AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI
THIS 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2012
E. K. O. OGOLA
JUDGE
Present:
Mbaabu for Petitioner
Teresia – court clerk