In re Estate of Edward Akelo Nyango’r (Deceased) [2021] KEHC 5835 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT KISUMU

SUCCESSION CAUSE NO 84 OF 1998

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD AKELO NYANGO’R- DECEASED

HARRISON OUMA AKELO....................................................................1ST ADMINISTRATOR

VERSUS

ROBERT ACHAPA AKELLO.....................................................................................OBJECTOR

AND

HERINE AKINYI AKELO.......................................................................2ND ADMINISTRATOR

EMMANUEL OMONDI AKELO.............................................................3RD ADMINISTRATOR

RULING

1.  In his Notice of Motion application dated and filed on 27th November 2020, the 1st Administrator sought leave to appeal against the Judgement that was delivered by Cherere J on 21st October 2020, an order for stay of execution of the said Judgement and a temporary order of injunction to restrain the Respondents from dealing, disposing and/ or interfering with the “contested” property being L.R No. 1148/1059 (hereinafter referred to as the “subject property”) that belonged to Edward Akelo Nyango’r (hereinafter referred to as the “deceased”) pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal. The application was supported by his Affidavit that he swore on 27th November 2020.

2.   He stated that he was dissatisfied with the aforesaid decision of the Learned Judge and wished to appeal against the same. He was emphatic that his draft Memorandum of Appeal had raised weighty legal and factual issues. His Notice of Appeal dated 28th October 2020 was filed on 3rd November 2020. He pointed out that he had also applied for proceedings and judgement.

3.   He urged this court to grant the prayers sought since the right to appeal in succession matter was not automatic.

4.   In response to the said application, on 27th January 2021, the Objector filed an Affidavit that he swore on 14th December 2020. He swore the said Affidavit on his own behalf and on behalf of the 2nd and 3rd Administrators herein.

5.   The Objector and the 1st and 2nd Administrators herein termed the present application unmerited and an abuse of the supervisory powers vested in the High Court. They averred that the 1st Administrator had proposed how the contested property was to be sold and it was therefore not true that they had embarked on scouting for a purchaser with a view to selling or disposing it because the procedure of how the property was to be sold was indicated in the judgment. They were emphatic that he was not keen on complying with the court’s directions. They also accused him of blocking them from accessing rents from tenants and not depositing all the rental proceeds.

6.   They thus urged this court to dismiss his present application.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

7.   The 1st Administrator submitted that having filed a Notice of Appeal as required under Rules 75 of the Court of Appeal Rules and having applied and sought for proceedings as required by law, then these are the first essential steps expected of a prospective appellant as it is the entry point to the Court of Appeal. In this regard, he relied on the cases of Rhoda Wairimu Karanja & Another vs Mary Wangui Karanja Nairobi CA NO 69 of 2014  and Joyce Nyamweya vs Jemima Nyamweya Kisumu CA NO 22 of 2015(eKLR citations not provided).

8.   He further submitted that he had an arguable appeal which raised substantial issues of law which was for the Court of Appeal to determine the question whether  a court can disinherit a child from inheriting his deceased father’s property.

9.   The court did not  deem it necessary to analyse the submissions relating to the question of whether or not to grant the 1st Administrator leave to appeal for the reason that the Objector and the 2nd and 3rd Administrators had no objection to the 1st Administrator’s application to be granted leave to appeal being granted.

10. Notably, both parties did not submit on the question of a stay of execution being granted and/or injunction pending the hearing and determination of appeal. It was not clear to this court if the 1st Administrator had abandoned these prayers. Hence, the court could not grant the same suo moto.

11. In any event, the 1st Administrator did not demonstrate that he had met the conditions set out in Order 42 Rule 6(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010  which was that an applicant must demonstrate that he will suffer substantial loss in the event that an order for stay of execution pending appeal is not granted, that he has filed his application without delay or that he is willing and ready to furnish security for the due performance of the decree or order.

12. Further, he did not show that he had met the criteria that had been set out in the case of Giella vs Cassman Brown Company Limited [1973]E.A. 358 which is that an applicant must demonstrate that he has established a prima facie case with a probability of success, that he will suffer irreparable loss in the event the interlocutory injunction was not granted or that if the court was in doubt, then it should grant an interlocutory injunction on a balance of convenience.

DISPOSITION

13. For the foregoing reasons, the upshot of this court’s decision was that the 1st Administrator’s Notice of Motion dated and filed on 27th November 2020 be and is allowed in terms of Prayer No (2) therein. The 1st Administrator be and is hereby granted leave to lodge his Appeal within fourteen (14) days from the date of this Ruling. For the avoidance of doubt, the court did not find the remaining prayers to have been merited. Costs of the application to be in the cause.

14. It is so ordered.

DATED AND DELIVERED AT KISUMU THIS 29TH DAY OF JUNE 2021

J. KAMAU

JUDGE