[2012] KEHC 731 (KLR)
The court found that the Petitioner had established, to the requisite standard of proof, that the Respondent had treated her with cruelty, resulting in the cessation of cohabitation since 1996 and the end of conjugal relations. The evidence adduced was sufficient to meet the legal threshold for cruelty under Section...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] KEHC 731 (KLR)
- Parties
- Petitioner: R. J. N. R.; Respondent: S. R. R.
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Divorce Cause 33 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Divorce Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- Petition allowed. Decree nisi of divorce granted on ground of cruelty.
- Judges
- D Schofield
- Legal Topics
- Divorce, Cruelty, Matrimonial Causes, Burden of Proof
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
R. J. N. R.
Petitioner
S. R. R.
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Divorce Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Respondent's conduct amounted to legal cruelty justifying dissolution of marriage.
- 2 Whether the Petitioner discharged the burden of proof required to establish cruelty as a ground for divorce.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Petitioner had established, to the requisite standard of proof, that the Respondent had treated her with cruelty, resulting in the cessation of cohabitation since 1996 and the end of conjugal relations. The evidence adduced was sufficient to meet the legal threshold for cruelty under Section 8(1)(c) of the Matrimonial Causes Act. The court held that the conduct of the Respondent made it unreasonable to expect the Petitioner to continue in the marriage, and thus, the marriage had irretrievably broken down. Consequently, the court granted the decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty.
Court Disposition
Petition allowed. Decree nisi of divorce granted on ground of cruelty.
Orders
- A decree nisi of divorce is issued forthwith dissolving the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent on the ground of cruelty.
- The decree nisi shall be made absolute after the expiry of three months from this pronouncement, subject to Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap 152.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
34 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
Divorce Cause 33 of 2010
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R. J. N. R................................................................... PETITIONER
VERSUS
S. R. R................................................................... RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. The Petitioner,R.J.N.R., aKenyan citizen domiciled in Kenya inseeks orders for dissolution of his marriage toS. R. R.,the Respondent, on the ground that the latter has since the celebration of the marriage treated the Petitioner with cruelty.
2. The marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent was solemnized at Registrar’s office in London Borough of Brent in the U.K. under the marriage Act of 1949 on 27th August 1977.
3. The law applicable to the marriage is the Matrimonial Causes Act Cap 152 of the Laws of Kenya whose Section 8 (1) (c) stipulates that cruelty is a grounds for dissolution of marriage.
4. The Petitioner reiterated in her evidence the averments in the Petition and the particulars of desertion which include:
(a)In 1996, the Respondent left the matrimonial home and since then the parties have not resumed conjugal co-habitation.
(b)No conjugal relations have taken place between the parties since the desertion.
(c)The marriage between the parties is consequently at an end
5. It was the Petitioner’s evidence that cohabitation between the parties ceased due to the cruelty alleged on the part of the Respondent.
6. For evident of cruelty to constitute legal cruelty and to be a ground for dissolution of marriage, it must be shown that the conduct of the guilty party made it impossible for the parties to live together reasonably happily and that it is unreasonable to expect the petitioner to continue to bear it (see N.V.N & Another (2008) IKLR (G & F) 16). It is accepted that law, does not require that there should be many acts of cruelty and that if one act should be of that description which should induce the court to think that it is likely to occur again and to occur with real suffering, there is no rule that should restrain the court from granting a decree of divorce. The real question that the court has to determine is whether the conduct complained of and its consequences are so deplorable that the complaining spouse must have a remedy.
7. The burden of proving cruelty is on the Petitioner or the party alleging it and the standard of proof is as high as in criminal cases.
8. In the instant case, I have duly examined and evaluated the evidence adduced and it is my finding that it amounts to cruelty in law. I so find.
9. I find cruelty proved against the Respondent.
10. Accordingly, I allow the Petition against the Respondent.
11. I pronounce a decree of divorce and hereby dissolve the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent on the ground of cruelty on the part of the Respondent.
12. In the first instance, a decree nisi shall issue forthwith, and subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap 152, the decree nisi shall be made absolute after the expiry of three months after this pronouncement.
13. Each party shall bear its own costs.
Dated at Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, on this 22nd day of November 2012.
G.B.M. KARIUKI, SC
JUDGE
COUNSEL APPEARING
Mrs. Mrs. Thongori advocate for Petitioner
Mr. Kugwa Court Clerk