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Caselaw
Original judgment

High Court 1912 of 2020

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REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MALINDI SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 137 OF 2015 IN THE MATTER OF OATHS AND STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ACT CAP 15 LAWS OF KENYA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ARTHUR JEREMIAH TSUMAH (DECEASED) Coram: Hon. Justice R. Nyakundi Kilonzo & Aziz Advocates for the applicants Objector in person RULING The deceased Arthur Jeremiah Tsumah died intestate on 19.11.2012. He was survived at the date of his death with six spouses and sixty seven children as particularized in the supporting affidavit of the administrators. The administrators in the summons of confirmation of grant of Letters of Administration intestate filed in Court on 18.7.2019 seeks interalia: (a) That the grant of letters intestate issued on 7.3.2017 be confirmed and the properties both movables and immovable be stated amongst the beneficiaries. In the affidavit evidence the deceased died leaving the following assets: (a) Parcel of land Kilifi/Mwawesa (particulars with held). (b) Parcel of land Kilifi/Mwawesa/1792. (c) Parcel of land Kilifi/Mwawesa (d) Parcel of land at Mbongolo (e) Plot No. 560 (f) Plot No. 561 (g) One semi-permanent rental house at Barani (h) Another semi-permanent rental house at Kwachocha (i) 25 heads of cattle It is proposed in the consent on the mode of distribution that the shares have been ascertained as per the annexures marked AJT – 3 as read with AJT – 4. However, the beneficiaries have since been unable to agree on the distribution of the livestock left behind by the deceased. The evidence on the mode of distribution signifies that the administrators were able to satisfy all the beneficiaries on the distribution of the assets of the deceased in the best interests of the estate. It follows therefore that the Court find no compelling reasons to interfere with the mode of distribution save for the contested movables on livestock. The Courts duty therefore is to ensure that the criteria on this residual estate not agreed to be distributed with the rest of the assets can be done in accordance with general application of the Law of Succession. First in my humble view, the administrators duty to oversee the distribution of the rest of the estate was in compliance with Section 38 of the

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Law of Succession. In adherence to devolve the shares of the assets equally among the children is also evident that the daughters of the deceased were also included and ranked equally with their counterpart brothers in equal measure. How then shall the remainder of the livestock be distributed. In the filed consent mode of distribution to the extent of finding a practicable solution its indicated that each of the six surviving spouse be entitled to equal share of the movable assets aimed at towards at achieving equity in the matter. I have considered the provisions under Section 40 of the Law of Succession and move to distribute the 25 (twenty five) heads of cattle equally amongst households regardless of the number of children in each house. In this petition for confirmation of grant intestate, I have given due weight to the affidavit and consent on the mode of distribution of the estate dated 17.7.2019 and further affidavit dated 30.10.2020. Its in my Judgment that the grant of Letters of Administration be confirmed and the estate of the deceased ‘be shared amongst the beneficiaries equally but also adding the surviving spouse as an additional unit’ as proposed by the administrators and the respective consents. Therefore, without departing from the letter and spirit of that mode of distribution of all the assets, the deadlocked issue on livestock be solely left for the six spouses. It follows therefore that the scheme of distribution be four cows for each household and the remainder to be sold and the proceeds shared equally amongst the spouses. In the result and for reasons stated grant of letters of administration issued on 17.3.2017 be confirmed and the intestate estate be distributed as per the annexed consent on mode of distribution, with a variation made by the Court on livestock. as this is a family dispute no order as to costs has been provided for in any event. Accordingly, to this effect the estate stands distributed in the following manner: NO HEIRS DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY SHARES IN PERCENTAGE 1 ELIZABETH TSUMA PLOT 2.214 JEREMIAH REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 2 BAHATI TSUMA RUTH PLOT 2.214 REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 3 KADZO CHARO KAHINDI PLOT 2.214 REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 4 DAMA KALAMA KIRAO PLOT 2.214 REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 5 FATUMA KAZUNGU PLOT 2.214 NGANDU REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 6 BAHATI DICKSON REUBEN PLOT 2.214 REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 7 PRISCILLAR KADZO PLOT 2.214 TSUMAH REGISTERED HA AT MBOGOLO NOT 1 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW ELIZABETH TSUMA 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH. 720,000 BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE JEREMIAH SHARED EQUALLY 2 BAHATI TSUMAH RUTH 3 KADZO CHARO KAHINDI 4 DAMA KALAMA KIRAO 5 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW FATUMA KAZUNGU 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH.720,000 BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE NGANDU SHARED EQUALLY 0.316% 0.316% 0.316% 0.316% 0.316% 0.316% 0.316% 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH. 720,000 BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE SHARED EQUALLY 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH. 720,000 BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE SHARED EQUALLY 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH. 720,000 BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE SHARED EQUALLY

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6 BAHATI DICKSON REUBEN 25 HEADS OF CATTLE VALUED AT KSH. 720,000 4 COWS EACH, THE REMAINING COW BE SOLD AND THE PROCEED BE SHARED EQUALLY 1 MANASSEH SAMUEL PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 2 ANA CHIDZAME PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 3 KAHOLETH CHIRIZAMY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 4 CHARLES PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA MUYOMBO TSUMAH 0.185% 5 VICTORIA TSUMA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 6 CONNY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 7 MONICA YSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 8 JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 9 JANET TSUMAH NYADZUA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 10 DOROTHY TSUMA MEDZA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 11 KENNETH TSUMA MVIKO PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 12 CHARITY TSUMAH HALIMA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 13 DANIEL JEREMIAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% 14 NANCY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 15 STANLEY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 16 GRACE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 17 FLORENCE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 18 CHRISTINE NYADZUA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 19 MARY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% NELLY TSAYA SAMMY CHIZI 0.185%

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20 IRINE TSUMAH AQUINO 21 MERCY TSUMA NAONI 22 STEPHEN TSUMA MALIT 23 DAMSON TSUMA MURUU 24 GLORIA TSUMAH TATU 25 MARY TSUMAH MEDZA 26 MOSES TSUMAH SABURI 27 ROBERT TSUMAH CHITAI 28 DAVID TSUMAH KAHINDI 29 CAROLYNE TSUMAH NYEVU PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 32 ALEX MUYOMBO PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% 33 MULONGO TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 34 PINDA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 35 MWALIMU JERENIAH TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 36 CHITAI TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 37 DANIEL TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 38 SUSAN MULONGO PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% 39 MARIAM TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 40 KABUNDA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 41 EVERLINE TSUMA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 3031 PETER TSUMAH MEDZA MGENI

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42 ESTHER TSUMAH 43 MEDZA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% PRISCILLAR ARTHER TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 44 JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 45 CLEMENCE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 46 DANIEL TSUMAH BEZANA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 47 ALBERT TSUMAH ARTHUR PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 48 MARTHA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 49 VICORIA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 50 NAOMI TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 51 NAOMI TSUMAH MBEYU PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 52 BETTY TSUMAH ARTHER PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 53 MARY TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 54 RUTH TSUMA BAHATI PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 55 JOSEPH TSUMAH MAWEDI PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 56 NICODEMUS TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 67 MAGDALENE TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 58 ESTHER TSUMAH NZITSAA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 59 ENOCK TSUMAH ARTHUR PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 60 CHAKA TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 61 JEREMIAH SHEVUDI PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% 62 ARTHUR JEREMIAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% FRANCIS TSUMAH 0.185% 63 BARAKA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA

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64 MZUNGU JEREMIAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA TSUMAH 0.185% 65 MARTIN TSUMAH JOMO PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 66 ALFRED TSUMAH VUKO PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 67 GLADYS TSUMAH KABIBI PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 68 JOSEPH TSUMAH MUNGA PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 69 HARUN TSUMAH PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 70 JOHN GITAU PLOT NO. 561 SABAKI 12.92 HA 0.185% 1 1 HOUSE SITUATED AT BARANI VALUED AT ELIZABETH TSUMA KHS 20,000,000. 1 HOUSE AT KWACHOCHA 1.3% JEREMIAH VALUED AT KHS 5, 000,000 2 BAHATI TSUMAH RUTH “ 1.3% 3 KADZO CHARO KAHINDI “ 1.3% 4 DAMA KALAMA KIRAO “ 1.3% 5 FATUMA KAZUNGU “ NGANDU 1.3% 6 BAHATI DICKSON “ 1.3% 7 PRISCILLAR KADZO “ TSUMAH 1.3% 8 MANASSEH SAMUEL “ TSUMAH 1.3% 9 ANA CHIDZAME “ 1.3% 10 KOHOLETH CHIRIZAMY TSUMAH “ 1.3% 11 CHARLES MUYOMBO TSUMA “ 1.3% 12 VICTORIA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 13 CONNY TSUMAH “ 1.3% REUBEN NELLY

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14 MONICAH TSUMA 15 TSAYA “ 1.3% JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH “ 1.3% 16 JANET TSUMAH NYADZUA “ 1.3% 17 DOROTHY TSUMAH MEDZA “ 1.3% 18 KENNETH TSUMAH MVUKO “ 1.3% 19 CHARITY TSUMAH HALIMA “ 1.3% 20 DANIEL JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.3% 21 NANCY TSUMA “ 1.3% 22 STANLEY TSUMAH “ 1.3% 23 GRACE TSUMAH “ 1.3% 24 FLORENCE TSUMA “ 1.3% 25 CHRISTINE NYADZUA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 26 MARY TSUMA “ 1.3% 27 IRINE TSUMAH AQUINO “ 1.3% 28 MERCY TSUMAH NAOMI “ 1.3% 29 STEPHEN TSUMAH MALIT “ 1.3% 30 DAMSON TUMAH MURUU “ 1.3% 31 GLORIA TSUMAH TATU “ 1.3% 32 MARY TSUMAH MEDZA “ 1.3% 33 MOSES TSUMAH SABURI “ 1.3% 34 ROBERT TSUMAH CHITAI “ 1.3% SAMMY CHIZI

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35 DAVID TSUMAH KAHINDI “ 1.3% 36 CAROLYNE TSUMAH NYEVU “ 1.3% 37 PETER TSUMAH “ 1.3% 38 ALEX MUYOMBO “ TSUMAH 1.3% 39 MULONGO TSUMAH “ 1.3% 40 PINDA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 41 MWALIMU JEREMIAH TSUMAH “ 1.3% 42 CHITAI TSUMAH “ 1.3% 43 DANIEL TSUMAH “ 1.3% 44 SUSAN MULUNGO “ TSUMAH 1.3% 45 MARIAM TSUMAH “ 1.3% 46 KABUNDA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 47 EVERLYNE TSUMAH MGENI “ 1.3% 48 ESTHER TSUMAH MEDZA “ 1.3% 49 PRISCILLAR ARTHUR TSUMAH “ 1.3% 50 JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH “ 1.3% 51 CLEMENCE TSUMAH “ 1.3% 52 DANIEL TSUMA BEZANA “ 1.3% 53 ALBERT TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.3% 54 MARTHA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 55 VICTRIA TSUMA “ 1.3% 56 NAOMI TSUMAH “ 1.3% MEDZA

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57 NAOMI TSUMAH MBEYU “ 1.3% 58 BETTY TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.3% 59 MARY TSUMAH “ 1.3% 60 RUTH TSUMAH BAHATI “ 1.3% 61 JESOPH TSUMAH MAWEDI “ 1.3% 62 NICODEMUS TSUMAH “ 1.3% 63 MAGDALINE TSUMAH “ 1.3% 64 ESTHER TSUMAH NZITSAA “ 1.3% 65 ENOCK TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.3% 66 CHAKA TSUMAH “ 1.3% 67 JEREMIAH SHEVUDI “ TSUMAH 1.3% 68 ARTHUR JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.3% 69 FRANCIS TSUMAH “ 1.3% 70 MZUNGU JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.3% 71 MARTIN TSUMAH “ 1.3% 72 MUYOMBO TSUMAH “ 1.3% 73 ALFRED TSUMAH VUKO “ 1.3% 74 GLADYS TSUMA KABIBI “ 1.3% 75 JOSEPH TSUMA MUNGA “ 1.3% 76 HARUN TSUMAH “ 1.3% 77 JOHN GITAU “ 1.3% 1 ELIZABETH - PLOT TSUMAH JEREMIAH KSH.1.5M BARAKA JOMO KLF/MWAWESA/17111 1.083 HA 1.298%

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- PLOT LKF/MWAWESA/1792 0.3423 HA KSH. 500,000 -PLOT KLF/MWAWESA 0.6892 HA KSH. 1M 2 BAHATI TSUMAH RUTH “ 1.298% 3 KADZO CHARO KAHINDI “ 1.298% 4 DAMA KALAMA KIRAO “ 1.298% 5 FATUMA KAZUNGU “ NGANDU 1.298% 6 BAHATI DICKSON “ 1.298% 7 PRISCILLAR KADZO “ TSUMAH 1.298% 8 MANASSEH SAMUEL “ TSUMAH 1.298% 9 ANA CHIDZAME “ 1.298% 10 KOHOLETH CHIRIZAMY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 11 CHARLES MUYOMBO TSUMAH “ 1.298% 12 VICTORIA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 13 CONNY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 14 MONICAH TSUMA “ 1.298% 15 JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 16 JANET TSUMAH NYADZUA “ 1.298% 17 DOROTHY TSUMAH MEDZA “ 1.298% 18 KENNETH TSUMAH MVUKO “ 1.298% 19 CHARITY TSUMAH HALIMA “ 1.298% REUBEN NELLY TSAYA

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20 DANIEL JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.298% 21 NANCY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 22 STANLEY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 23 GRACE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 24 FLORENCE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 25 CHRISTINE NYADZUA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 26 MARY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 27 IRINE TSUMAH AQUINO “ 1.298% 28 MERCY TSUMAH NAOMI “ 1.298% 29 STEPHEN TSUMAH MALIT “ 1.298% 30 DANSON TSUMAH MURUU “ 1.298% 31 GLORIA TSUMAH TATU “ 1.298% 32 MARY TSUMAH MEDZA “ 1.298% 33 MOSES TSUMAH SABURI “ 1.298% 34 ROBERT TSUMAH CHITAI “ 1.298% 35 DAVID TSUMAH KAHINDI “ 1.298% 36 CAROLYNE TSUMAH NYEVU “ 1.298% 37 PETER TSUMAH “ 1.298% 38 ALEX MUYOMBO “ TSUMAH 1.298% 39 MULONGO TSUMAH “ 1.298% 40 PINDA TSUMAH “ 1.298% SAMMY CHIZI

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41 MWALIMU JEREMIAH TSUMAH “ 1.298% 42 CHITAI TSUMAH “ 1.298% 43 DANIEL TSUMAH “ 1.298% 44 SUSAN MULONGO “ TSUMAH 1.298% 45 MARIAM TSUMAH “ 1.298% 46 KABUNDA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 47 EVERLYNE TSUMAH MGENI “ 1.298% 48 ESTHER TSUMA MEDZA “ 1.298% 49 PRISCILLAR ARTHRU TSUMAH “ 1.298% 50 JEREMIAH MWANDENGE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 51 CLEMENCE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 52 DANIEL TSUMAH BEZANA “ 1.298% 53 ALBERT TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.298% 54 MARTHA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 55 VICTORIA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 56 NAOMI TSUMAH “ 1.298% 57 NAOMI TSUMAH MBUYU “ 1.298% 58 BETTHY TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.298% 59 MARY TSUMAH “ 1.298% 60 RUTH TSUMAH BAHATI “ 1.298% 61 JOSEPH TSUMAH MAWEDI “ 1.298% 62 NICODEMUS TSUMAH “ 1.298% MEDZA

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63 MAGDALENE TSUMAH “ 1.298% 64 ESTHER TSUMAH NZITSAA “ 1.298% 65 ENOCK TSUMAH ARTHUR “ 1.298% 66 CHAKA TSUMAH “ 1.298% 67 JEREMIAH SHEVUDI “ TSUMAH 1.298% 68 ARTHUR JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.298% 69 FRANCIS TSUMAH “ 1.298% 70 MZUNGU JEREMIAH “ TSUMAH 1.298% 71 MARTIN TSUMAH “ 1.298% 72 MUUOMBO TSUMAH “ 1.298% 73 ALFRED TSUMAH VUKO “ 1.298% 74 GLADYS TSUMAH KABIBI “ 1.298% 75 JOSEPH TSUMAH MUNGA “ 1.298% 76 HARUN TSUMAH “ 1.298% 77 JOHN GITAU “ 1.298% 78 JANET TSUMAH “ 1.298% BARAKA JOMO CHIZI DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT MALINDI THIS 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2020 ............................ R. NYAKUNDI JUDGE

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