[2013] KEHC 2055 (KLR)
The court found that the applicants, through their advocates, had been properly served with the hearing notice for the application seeking to compel them to sign mutation and transfer forms to effect the confirmed grant. The applicants did not attend court or oppose the application, nor did they appeal against the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 2055 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Wilson Kiptanui Mutai; Applicant: John Kipkoech Mutai; Respondent: Sarah Cherono Tuimising; Respondent: Daniel Kipruto Mutai
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kericho
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Succession Cause 173 of 2005
- Procedural Posture
- Succession Cause / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Orders
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the respondents
- Legal Topics
- Confirmation of Grant, Distribution of Estate, Setting Aside Orders, Service of Hearing Notice
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Wilson Kiptanui Mutai
Applicant
John Kipkoech Mutai
Applicant
Sarah Cherono Tuimising
Respondent
Daniel Kipruto Mutai
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Succession Cause / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Orders
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicants were properly served with the hearing notice for the application dated 24th August 2011.
- 2 Whether the applicants are entitled to have the orders issued on 14th May 2013 set aside.
- 3 Whether the applicants' failure to oppose the application or appeal against the confirmed grant affects their entitlement to the orders sought.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicants, through their advocates, had been properly served with the hearing notice for the application seeking to compel them to sign mutation and transfer forms to effect the confirmed grant. The applicants did not attend court or oppose the application, nor did they appeal against the confirmed grant. The orders issued on 14th May 2013 were therefore regular and intended to give effect to the lawful distribution of the estate as per the confirmed grant. The applicants failed to demonstrate any sufficient cause or procedural irregularity to warrant setting aside the orders. Consequently, the application to set aside the orders was dismissed as lacking merit.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the respondents
Orders
- The motion dated 10th June 2013 is dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KERICHO
SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 173 OF 2005
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KIMUTAI TUIMISING (DECEASED)
WILSON KIPTANUI........................................1ST APPLICANT
JOHN KIPKOECH MUTAI..............................2ND APPLICANT
VERSUS
SARAH CHERONO TUIMISING................1ST RESPONDENT
DANIEL KIPRUTO MUTAI........................2ND RESPONDENT
RULING
By the Motion dated 10th June 2013, Wilson Kiptanui Mutai and John Kipkoech Mutai, hereinafter referred to as the Applicants, sought for the setting aside of the orders issued on 14th May 2013. The Motion is supported by the affidavit of Wilson Kiptanui Mutai sworn on 10th June 2013. Sarah Cherono Tuimising and Daniel Kipruto Mutai hereinafter referred to as the Respondents opposed the Motion by relying on the replying affidavit of Daniel Kipruto Mutai sworn on 24th July 2013.
I have considered the grounds set out on the face of the motion and the facts deponed in the affidavits filed in support and against the motion. It is the applicants' submission that they and their advocate were not aware that the cause had been fixed for hearing on 7th May 2013. They averred that they had not been served with a hearing notice. The applicants claimed that they were surprised when they received an order directing them to sign mutation and transfer forms to cause the estate land to be subdivided and distributed. For the above reason, this court was urged to set aside the aforesaid order and reinstate the summons dated 24/08/2011 for inter parties hearing. The Respondents on their part stated that the applicants' advocate had been served with a hearing notice hence they were required to be in court on 7th May 2013 but they chose to absent themselves. The Respondents further pointed out that the Applicants' motion has no merit in that the orders made on 7th May 2013 and issued on 14/5/2013 were meant to actualize the execution of the certificate of confirmation of grant dated 18th January 2013. After a careful consideration of the rival averments the following facts appear to be not in dispute in this cause: First, that on the 18th day of January 2011, the grant issued in the joint names of both the Applicants and the Respondents was confirmed. The certificate of confirmation of grant clearly show the schedule of distribution of the estate as follows:
Wilson K. Mutai- Kericho/Kabianga/781 -3. 775 acres
John K. Mutai- Kericho/Kabianga/781 -2. 775 acres
Richard K. Mutai- Kericho/Kabianga/781 -1. 475 acres
Stanley K. Mutai- Kericho/Kabianga/781 -1. 475 acres
Sarah C. Tuimising- Kericho/Kabianga/781 -1. 00 acre
Daniel K. Mutai- Kericho/Kabianga/753 -0. 7 Ha
Secondly, that Daniel K. Mutai filed the chamber summons dated 24th August 2011 in which he sought for inter alia an order directing Wilson Kiptanui and John K. Mutai to execute the mutation and transfer forms to give effect to the confirmed grant.
The aforesaid application was served and fixed for inter parties hearing on 7th May 2013. I have looked at the copy of the hearing notice attached to the replying affidavit of Daniel K. Mutai and it is clear that the firm of Chelule & Co. Advocates acknowledged receipt of the hearing notice by stamping on the face of it. It is therefore not true that the Applicants had no notice as to when the summons dated 24th August 2011 came up for inter parties hearing. In any case the Applicants did not oppose the aforesaid application and that is why this court found it not difficult to give the orders as prayed ex parte. The nature of the orders sought in the summons dated 24th August 2011 is to give effect to the confirmed grant. A critical examination of the averments made in the affidavit of Daniel Mutai sworn on 24th August 2011 and filed in support of the summons shows that the Applicants herein had deliberately refused to sign mutation and transfer forms to subdivide the estate land. This prompted the Respondents to apply for an order compelling the Applicants to execute those forms and in default the deputy registrar of this court be authorized to do so. This court has now been urged to set aside the order. I do not think the Applicants are entitled to the orders. They did not oppose the summons and neither have they appealed against the order confirming the grant. In the end I see no merit in the motion dated 10th June 2013. The same is dismissed with costs to the Respondents.
Dated, signed and delivered this 4th day of October 2013.
J.K.SERGON
JUDGE
In open court in the presence of
Mrs. Bett for the Respondents
Mr. Mutai for the Applicants
Mr. Koech- Court clerk