[2009] KEHC 898 (KLR)
The court held that in intestate succession, the children of the deceased have a superior right to inherit over grandchildren. The evidence established that Salome Kooru, as a child of the deceased, was entitled to a greater portion of the estate than the petitioners, who are grandchildren. The court found that...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2009] KEHC 898 (KLR)
- Parties
- Petitioner: Rose Nthiori Mutwiri; Petitioner: Caroline Nkirote; Respondent: Salome Kooru; Respondent: Hellen Mukiri
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Succession Cause 114 of 2004
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- Estate distributed among the deceased's daughter and grandchildren as specified; grant confirmed.
- Judges
- MM Kasango
- Legal Topics
- Succession, Intestate Estate Distribution, Inheritance Rights, Grandchildren Vs Children, Confirmation of Grant
- 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
Rose Nthiori Mutwiri
Petitioner
Caroline Nkirote
Petitioner
Salome Kooru
Respondent
Hellen Mukiri
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether grandchildren have a greater right of inheritance over the children of the deceased in intestate succession.
- 2 What is the fair mode of distribution of the deceased's estate among the surviving children and grandchildren.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that in intestate succession, the children of the deceased have a superior right to inherit over grandchildren. The evidence established that Salome Kooru, as a child of the deceased, was entitled to a greater portion of the estate than the petitioners, who are grandchildren. The court found that Salome should receive half an acre of the property, reflecting her status as a direct child of the deceased, while the balance of the property should be shared equally between the petitioners, who are the children of the deceased's late son. The court rejected the argument that Salome's marital status disqualified her from inheriting, affirming her entitlement as a daughter of the...
Court Disposition
Estate distributed among the deceased's daughter and grandchildren as specified; grant confirmed.
Orders
- Ntima/Igoki/5240 shall be distributed as follows: Salome Kooru half an acre; Caroline Nkirote and Rose Nthiori Mutwiri the balance to be shared between them equally, each getting their own portion.
- A confirmed grant shall issue in those terms.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MERU
Succession Cause 114 of 2004
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF M’RINCHUNI M’KIENGO
ROSE NTHIORI …………………………….. PETITIONER
VERSUS
SALOME KOORU …………………………. 1ST PROTESTOR
HELLEN MUKIRI …………………………… 2ND PROTESTOR
JUDGEMENT
The petitioners, Caroline Nkirote and Rose Nthiori Mutwiri petitioned for grant of letters of administration intestate in respect of the estate of their grandfather the deceased herein. In that petition, the name Salome Kooru and Hellen Mukiri as the daughters of the deceased. It is pertinent to note that the consent that was filed bore a thumb print allegedly of Salome Kooru but was not commissioned or witnessed by an advocate. The petitioners by their summons dated 10th June 2005 sought to jointly inherit the only property of this estate being Igoki/Ntima/1445. An affidavit of protest was filed by Salome. In that affidavit, and indeed in the oral evidence as she adduced in support of the protest, she stated that the deceased had 4 children who were Salome Kooru, David Mutwiri, Lydia Mwari and Hellen Mukiri. David and Lydia are now deceased. David was the father of the two petitioners. Salome opposed the mode of distribution indicated in the summons for confirmation stating that the said distribution was unfair and unjust. In her affidavit in support, she requested that the estate be divided in three portions one for herself, the other for Hellen and the lastly to the children of David Mutwiri, that is the petitioners. At the hearing by way of viva voce evidence, Salome on being asked why Hellen Mukiri had not come to give evidence seeking to inherit the deceased land, she retorted by saying that Hellen was unwell and could not attend court. Salome’s case is that the petitioners can only inherit what their deceased father would have been entitled to. The only person who appeared to support the petitioner’s case was Rose Nthiori Mutwiri. She stated that Salome could not inherit the deceased land because she was married. Further, she said that David Mutwiri was the only son of the deceased and by virtue of him being the father of her and her co-petitioner, they were entitled to inherit the whole land. She did however concede that Salome does cultivate half an acre of that land. That essentially was the evidence that was adduced before court. In my view, a granddaughter does not have a greater right of inheritance over that of a child of the deceased. Salome is a child of the deceased in this estate. For that reason, the interest of justice would require that she get a greater portion of the property than the petitioners who are deceased’s grandchildren. On the evidence brought before me, I find that she is entitled to half an acre of that property and the balance should go to the petitioner. The judgment of this court is as follows:-
Ntima/Igoki/5240 shall be distributed as follows:-
1. Salome Kooru half an acre
2. Caroline Nkirote and Rose Nthiori Mutwiri the balance to be shared between them equally each getting their own portion.
3. A confirm grant shall issue in those terms
4. There shall be no orders as to costs
Dated and delivered at Meru this 6th day of November 2009.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE