REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MACHAKOS SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 167 OF 1996 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MBUTA NDOLO (DECEASED) EZRA DAVID NDOLO ……………….…...............1ST ADMINISTRATOR ESTHER WANZA MBUTA ………….…...….……2ND ADMINISTRATOR REUBEN KINYUMU MBUTA ……......…….……..3RD ADMINISTRATOR AND JACKSON MUTUAL KAVILA ……………................INTERESTED PARTY RULING Introduction 1. Before the Court are two applications dated 28 th February 2012 and 4th December 2012, respectively seeking a determination of the Deceased’s Estate prior to the determination of application for confirmation of Grant dated 30th June 2009 and an order to restrain the interested Party from dealing with a parcel of land 2916 Mang’elete Settlement Scheme which the applicant claimed to form part of the Estate of the Deceased. The first application was filed by the Interested Party and the second application by the 1st Administrator. 2. On 11th November 2013, the Court (B. Thuranira Jaden, J) gave directions that the first of the two application dated 28th February 2012 be heard first and for that purpose the parties were directed to file written submissions for highlighting on a date to be fixed at the Registry. 3. Subsequently the matter was mentioned before the Court for mention on 6 th October 2014 and 24th March 2015 when it was adjourned as the parties had not filed their submissions. On the latter occasion counsel for the 1st Administrator also sought leave to file a supplementary Affidavit which was granted. 4. On 7th October 2015, when the matter first came up before me, Counsel for the Interested Party had filed his set of submissions to both applications of 28 th February 2012 and 4th December 2012. The 1st Administrator had not filed his set of submissions and two counsel attended court and sought to appear for him. Counsel then on record, Mr. Mulei of O.M. Makau & Mulei Advocates, indicate to court that they had not filed the further affidavit and submissions for lack of instructions by the 1 st Administrator. The Court set the matter for mention on a later date for the issue of representation of the 1 st Administrator to be resolved.
page 1 of 6
5. On 10th November 2015, Ms. Kinyanjui of Kittony Maina Karanja Advocates indicated to court that representation of the 1st respondent had been resolved by a Consent which the Court adopted as follows: “The firm of O.M. Makau & Mulei Advocates be granted leave to cease acting for the 1 st administrator and the firm of Kittony Maina Karanja Advocates to be placed on record for the 1 st administrator. The firm of Kittony Maina Karanja Advocates to file a Notice of Change of Advocates within 7 days and the firm of O.M. Makau & Mulei be at liberty to tax its Bill of Costs in respect to Advocate-Client Bill of Costs.” 6. On the same date, Mrs. Nzei, Counsel for the Interested Party/Applicant and also appearing for the 2 nd and 3rd Administrators prayed that the two applications dated 28th February 2012 and 4th December 2012 be heard together indicating that she had already filed her submissions on the two applications. On her part Ms. Kinyanjui for the 1st Administrators requested for 21 days to file a replying affidavit, and Mrs Nzei sought corresponding leave to file a further affidavit after service upon her of the 1 st Administrator’s Replying Affidavit. 7. Consequently, the Court made the following Orders on 10th November 2015: 1. The 1st Administrator to file replying affidavit with 21 days. 2. The 2nd and 3rd Administrators and the Interested Party to file, if necessary, further affidavits within 14 days of service. 3. Mrs. Nzei for the 2nd and 3rd Administrators to file submissions within 14 days of filing further affidavits. 4. The 1st administrator to file submissions within 14 days of service of the 2nd and 3rd Administrator’s submissions. 5. Mention on 4th February 2016 for highlighting of submissions, if necessary.” 8. On 4th February 2016, which is almost 3 months since the order for filing of replying affidavit and submissions were given, the 1st Administrator appeared by a Mr. Wang’ombe, Advocate who stated that he held brief for Ms. Kinyanjui and had instructions to seek a further mention as they had not received instructions from their client. Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd Administrators and the interested Party, Mrs. Nzei, objected to the adjournment and sought to make submissions on her application dated 28 th February 2012. 9. The Court considered that the 1 st administrator had had ample opportunity to file his replying Affidavit and submissions in the matter, and consequently declined the adjournment and made an order that the “Application of 28th February will proceed to highlighting of submissions as scheduled.” The Application 10. By Chamber Summons dated 28th February, 2012, the Intersted Party sought the following specific Orders: 1. That this Honourable court gives directions that this Honourable court first identifies the properties belonging to the deceased’s estate before hearing the summons for confirmation of grant dated 30th June, 2009. 2. That properties belonging to Jackson Mutua Kavila, the Interested party herein and listed in
page 2 of 6
the summons for confirmation of grant dated 30 th June, 2009 as forming part of the deceased’s estate, namely; i. Plot No. 602 ii. Plot No. 912 iii. Plot No. 1160 Mangelete Settlement Schme iv. Plot No. 1902 v. Plot No. 2916 vi. Plot No. 3609 Submissions 11. The application was supported by the Supporting Affidavit dated 28 th February, 2012 in which the Interested Party deponed, principally, as follows: 1. That I am the interested party/applicant herein above-named, and therefore competent to swear this supporting affidavit. 2. That I have been drawn into these succession proceedings by the listing of my properties among those alleged to belong to the deceased’s estate. 3. That my following properties, situation within Mangelete Settlement Scheme, have been listed in the application for confirmation of grant dated 30th June, 2012, yet my said properties do not form part of the deceased’s estate: i. Plot No. 602 ii. Plot No. 912 iii. Plot No. 1160 iv. Plot No. 1902 v. Plot No. 2916 vi. Plot No. 3609 (Hereto annexed and marked “JKA” is a copy of the relevant Land Adjudication and Settlement Officer’s letter dated 17th August, 2011) 4. That my said properties should first be excluded from these succession proceedings and I should be accordingly discharged from the same. This Honourable Court ought to give directions in that regard. 5. That this Honourable court can only be called upon to confirm a grant after identification of assets forming the deceased’s estate. 12. In support of the application, Counsel for the Interested Party and the 2 nd and 3rd Administrators made submissions which are set out verbatim herein-below:
page 3 of 6
“Mrs. Nzei - Highlighting of submissions on applications dated 28 th February, 2012. Applicant seeks relief under Section 47 of the Laws of Succession Act and rule 73 of Probate and Administration Rules. Supported by affidavit of Jackson Mutua of 28 th February, 2012. Written submissions filed by the applicant’s Counsel M/s Nzei & Co. Advocates on 6 th October, 2014. I will only address on the submissions on application of 28 th February, 2012. Submissions filed by directions given by Jaden J. on 11th September, 2013. Interested party is not a member of the deceased’s family and he is not an elder to the family. He has been drafted by Mr. Ezra Ndolo by listing the Interested Party’s properties forming part of the Estate – See summons for confirmation of Grant of 30th June, 2009. The properties are: Plots 602, 912, 1160, 1902, 2916 and 3609 all which are situated with Mang’elete Settlement Scheme. The interested party has been drafted to the proceedings by these properties. Upon the listing, he filed affidavit of Protest by Affidavit of 11 th July, 2011. He subsequently filed the application of 28th February, 2012. The application of 28th February, 2012 seeks1. Identification of the properties forming deceased estate. 2. Properties belonging to Jackson Mutua Kavila be removed and Interested party be discharged. Court directed that application be heard before the confirmation of Grant. Prayer No. (1) is therefore already heard. Properties have never been registered in the name of the deceased. The properties are in a Settlement Scheme Mang’elete Settlement Scheme. Before the Settlement Scheme. Before the settlement, the property was Government land - see letter of Ministry of Lands dated 17 th August, 2011 by District Lands Adjudication Officer Kibwezi indicating the membership allocation of properties. The properties earlier belong to the Interested Party. Mang’elete is a Squatter Settlement Scheme and was and is still a Government land. The land is a government land which was allocated to settlement squatters. The properties belongs to the Interested Party are his property – and he is not answerable to the Administrators of the Estate. Section 3(1) of the Laws of Succession Act defines an Estate of deceased as the free property of a deceased. The property in issue have never been the deceased person’s free properties which he could dispose and issue title. It is not part of the estate of the deceased as a matter of law. The properties have been confirmed to belong to the interested party and should be isolated and removed from the list of assets of the Estate. The application has not been opposed although the 1 st Administrator has been given time to respond, he has not done so. The 2nd and 3rd administrators did file Protest to the Summons for Confirmation of Grant on grounds that the list provided by 1 st Administrator included property belonging to interested party. Affidavit of Protest of 23rd October, 2012 sworn on 19th October, 2012. The application which is not opposed is merited and ought to be granted.” 13. When called upon to reply to the submissions by Counsel for the Interested Party and the 2 nd and 3rd Administrators, Counsel then appearing for the 1st Administrator, Mr. Wang’ombe, told the Court that he did not wish to make any submissions on the matter. The Issue for determination 14. The Issue for determination is whether the properties the subject of the application dated 28 th
page 4 of 6
February 2012 are the property of the Deceased so as to be included as part of the Deceased’s Estate. Determination 15. The Court has noted the contents of the letter dated 17th August 2011, reproduced in full below: “LA/KBZ/MAN/VOL.11/815/109/208 17th August, 2011 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN RE: CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP P/NOS. 602, 911, 912, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1902, 2743, 2793, 2892, 2916, 3609, 3613, 3362- MANG’ELETE SETTLEMENT SCHEME This is to certify and confirm that the above plots situated at Mang’elete Settlement scheme of Nthongoni Location of Mtito Andei Division of Kibwezi District of the Republic of Kenya is owned and recorded as shown below as per records held by this office. P/NO. NAME OF THE OWNER 602 JACKSON MUTUA KAVILA 911 NDUNGE MBUTA NDOLO 912 JACKSON MUTUA KAVILA 1159 ANNAH MBUTA NDOLO 1160 JACKSON MUTUA KAVILA 1161 NDUNGE MBUTA NDOLO 1902 JACKSON MUTUL KAVILA 2743 CHRISTPHER NDOLO MBUTA 2793 MBUTA NDOLO WATER CANAL 2892 ANNAH MBUTA NDOLO 2916 JACKSON MUTUA KAVILA 3362 SAMUEL ESITOKO IMBANYI RODAH MUNYIVA ESITO 3609 JACKSON MUTUA KAVILA 3613 NDUNGE MBUTA NDOLO Note: Mang’elete is a squatter settlement scheme and was/is still a government land. Please accord assistance requested if need be. ………………….
page 5 of 6
ALI C. HUSSEIN FOR: DISTRICT LAND ADJUDICATION/SETTLEMENT OFFICER KIBWEZI DISTRICT” 16. On a balance of probabilities, there being no evidence of allocation or acquisition by the deceased, the Estate or indeed the 1st Administrator of interest in properties the subject of the application and having considered the letter of the District Land Adjudication/Settlement Officer dated the 17 th August 2011, which confirms ownership of the plots Mang’elete Settlement Scheme Nos. 602, 912, 1160, 1902, 2916 and 3609, the Court must find and hold that the said properties belong to the Interested Party and therefore do not form part of the Estate of the Deceased. Orders 17. Accordingly, the Court grants the relief sought in the Chamber Summons dated 28 th February 2012 in the terms prayed under prayer 2 of the Summons. 18. Costs in the Cause. DATED AND DELIVERED THIS 31st DAY OF MARCH 2016. EDWARD M. MURIITHI JUDGE In the presence of: Ms. Nzei for the Interested Party, 2nd and 3rd Administrator No appearance for the 1st Administrator No appearance for the Objector Ms. Doreen- Court Assistant.
page 6 of 6