In re Estate of J M M – Deceased [2016] KEHC 6384 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAKURU

SUCCESSION CAUSE NO.640 OF 2012

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF J M M – DECEASED

T N M

M  W  M..............................................................................................PETITIONERS

RULING

By a summons for confirmation of grant dated 31st March, 2013,T N M and M W M moved this court to have the grant of letter of administration in respect of the estate of J M M  (deceased) on the 18th December, 2012 confirmed.

The summons is grounded on the affidavit of T N M and M W M sworn on the 31st March, 2014.

Annexed to the summons is a consent to confirmation of grant (General form) signed by T N M, M W M, J M M, M W M, L K M, T N W , E L L and R W M  .  The 1st two are the widows of the deceased while the rest are children of the deceased save for R W M  who is a niece, E L L (an adopted child) and T N W  a grandchild.

J W M, E S M M and E W M (all children of the deceased) did not sign the consent.

J W M and E S M M have opposed the mode of distribution proposed by the administrators of the estate and an affidavit of protest is on record.  The administrators have in paragraph 5 of the affidavit in support of the summons for the confirmation of grant proposed the following distribution of shares to the beneficiaries:

i) M W M - PLOT NO.MAU SUMMIT

CENTRE L.R [particulars withheld] -  - WHOLE SHARE

ii) T N W – LR [particulars withheld]

–   - WHOLE SHARE

iii)  J W M – LR[particulars withheld] –       - WHOLE SHARE

iv M W M -    LR [particulars withheld] –      - WHOLE SHARE

v) E W M     - LR [particulars withheld]  –    - WHOLE SHARE

vi) E S M M - LR [particulars withheld] –      - WHOLE SHARE

vii)  L K M - LR [particulars withheld] –        - WHOLE SHARE

viii) T N M - LR [particulars withheld] –        - WHOLE SHARE

ix)  M W M - LR [particulars withheld]     –     - WHOLE SHARE

x) T N M and M W M - LR [particulars withheld]   - EQUAL SHARES

ix) E L L - LR [particulars withheld]  - WHOLE SHARE

xii) L K M -LR [particulars withheld]   - WHOLE SHARE

xiii) T N M - LR[particulars withheld]  - WHOLE SHARE

xiv) T N M, M W M          LR [particulars withheld]

J M M           - EQUAL SHARE

xv E W M      - LR [particulars withheld]        - WHOLE SHARE

xvi) M W M- NKU MUNICIPALITY BLK.[particulars withheld]   -  WHOLE SHARE

xvii)  M W M and           T N M      - LR [particulars withheld] -     EQUAL SHARES

xviii)  LR[particulars withheld]     -

a) M W M   -        1 ACRE

b) L K M     -        1 ACRE

c) T N M    -        ½  ACRE

d) R W M   -        ½  ACRE

xix) LR [particulars withheld]               -

a) E WM

b) J W M

c) E S M M -   EQUAL SHARE

xx) LR [particulars withheld] -      R W M  – WHOLE SHARE

xxi) LR [particulars withheld]  - R W M     -  WHOLE SHARE

xxii) LR [particulars withheld] – J M M      -  WHOLE SHARE

xxiii) LR.[particulars withheld]   -T N M       - WHOLE SHARE

xxiv) PLOT [particulars withheld]  - M G

TRADING CENTRE  - T N M     - WHOLE SHARE

xxv)  KENYARE SHARES  -T N M       - WHOLE SHARE

xxvi)  KCB SHARES   - M W M     - WHOLE SHARE

xxvii) UNIVEVER TEA SHARES   - T N M      - WHOLE SHARE

xxviii)STANDARD CHARTED SHARES – M W M – WHOLE SHARE

xxix) KENGEN SHARES - T N M      - WHOLE SHARE

xxx) B.A.T. SHARES  - M W M     - WHOLE SHARE

xxxi)SARAFICOM SHARES           - T N M      - WHOLE SHARE

xxxii) MONEY IN CO-OP. BANK   - M W M  & T N M         - EQUAL SHARE

xxxiii) MONEY IN STANDARD CHARTERED

SAFARI SAVINGS                 -  M W M &  - T N M      - EQUAL SHARE

xxxiv) MONEY IN EQUITY BANK          - M W M & - T N M     - EQUAL SHARE

In the affidavit of protest, J W M and E S M M  have in paragraph 4 thereof proposed the following mode of distribution:

PLOT NO.MAU SUMMIT CENTRE LR/[particulars withheld]  -    MW M - WHOLE SHARE

KIAMBOGO/KIAMBOGO BLK [particulars withheld]               -T N M and

- M W M  - EQUAL SHARE

LR  BLK [particulars withheld] (MWARIKI)       – J W M      – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] ,( MWARIKI )            - M W M – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (MWARIKI)      - E W M M – WHOLE SHARE

LR BLK[particulars withheld] (MWARIKI)         – E W M     – WHOLE SHARE

LR[particulars withheld] (MWARIKI) – L K M – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (MWARIKI)       –T N M                 – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld]  (MWARIKI) – J M M  – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld]  (MWARIKI) (SOLD) ADMINISTRATORS TO TRANSFER (T N M AND  M W M)

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA)  -  E L L – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] -      L K M– WHOLE SHARE

LR[particulars  withheld] (MWARIKI) – T N M  - WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -   T N M,  M W M AND J M M – EQUAL SHARE

LR[particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -  E S M M  - WHOLE SHARE

NKU MUNICIPALITY BLK.[particulars withheld]  – E S M M      and M W M          - (TO HOLD IN TRUST OF THE       ESTATE) (REVENUE COLLECTED BE SHARED BY ALL BENEFICIARIES)

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -   J M M – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -  E S M M – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -   J W M – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -

(a) M W M – 1 ACRE

(b) L K M – 1 ACRE

(c) T N M – ½ ACRE

(d) R W M – ½ ACRE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -(a) E W M – 1 ACRE

(b) J W M – 1 ACRE

(c)  E S M M  – 1 ACRE

LR [particulars withheld] (HARAKA) -  R W M   – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld]        – M W M    – WHOLE SHARE

LR [particulars withheld] (MWARIKI) – J M M – WHOLE SHARE

NKU MUNICIPALITY [particulars withheld] – T N M and J W M - (TO HOLD IN TRUST OF THE ESTATE) (REVENUE    COLLECTED BE SHARED BY ALL BENEFICIARIES)

[particulars withheld]  -MBURU GICHUA

TRADING CENTRE – T N M                    - WHOLE SHARE

KENYA RE SHARES

KCB SHARES

UNIVEVER TEA SHARES

STANDARD CHARTED BANK SHARES

KENGEN SHARES

B.A.T. SHARES

SARAFICOM SHARES

(ALL SHARES TO BE SOLD AND MONEY TO BE SHARES BY ALL     BENEFICIARIES

MONEY IN CO-OP. BANK – TO BE SHARED EQUALLY BY ALL THE BENEFICIARIES

MONEY IN STANDARD CHARTERED BANK – TO BE SHARED EQUALLY BY ALL THE    BENEFICIARIES

MONEY IN EQUITY BANK – TO BE SHARED EQUALLY BY ALL THE  BENEFICIARIES

In a further affidavit of protest, the two propose in paragraph 4 thereof that shares of 2 other properties be distributed as follows:

[particulars withheld] – T N M  – WHOLE SHARE

[particulars withheld] – M W M – WHOLE SHARE

Counsel for the petitioners did file brief submissions.

I have had occasion to consider the summons for confirmation of grant, the supporting affidavit by the two (2) petitioners and the consent signed by some of the beneficiaries.

I have considered the affidavit of protest and the further affidavit of protest and the mode of distribution proposed thereon.

Of determination is the mode of distribution of the estate herein amongst the beneficiaries the assets and beneficiaries having been ascertained.

The Law of Succession Act (Cap 160 Laws of Kenya) and specifically under Section 27 thereof donates complete discretion to the court to order specific share of the estate to be given to each dependant or to make such other provision for him by way of periodical payments or a lump sum and to impose such conditions as it deems fit.

As held in the decision in Mary Rono V. Jane Rono & Another, Civil Appeal No.66 of 2002, the discretion aforesaid, like all discretions exercised by courts, must be made judiciously, that is to say, on sound legal and factual basis.  All the while the emphasis ought to be on a fair distribution of the deceased's net estate.

The Administrators herein are the wives to the deceased and mothers to the beneficiaries.  I have considered the proposal made by the administrators in respect of the distribution of the capital assets.  I have also factored in the distribution proposed by J W M and E S M M.  It is manifestly clear from the distribution that the administrators have endevoured to  distribute the estate in so far as the capital assets are concerned equitably.

It is commendable that the two (2) wives of the deceased have come together and agreed on the distribution of the estate to their respective children without acrimony.  Indeed, the majority of the beneficiaries agree with them.  Of note is that the protestors have been substantially provided for as far as capital assets are concerned.

The protestors have not laid any basis for their proposed mode of distribution.  Where their proposal is at variance with that of the administrators, no explanations are given to warrant interference with the distribution as proposed by the administrators.  Suffice to state that distribution cannot be guided by the whimsical wishes of a minority beneficiary more so where there is evidence that they have been substantially and equably provided for.

As regards shares and cash in bank forming part of the estate herein, I am persuaded that the administrators ought to have devised a more equitable distribution.  I note from the record that there is a minor beneficiary by the name T N M, a granddaughter to the deceased.  She would obviously benefit appropriately by having disposable cash available to take care of her schooling needs.  That alone, however does not justify having all the cash.. in bank going to the administrators.  Tellingly, the amounts in the various accounts named are not indicated.  No proper justification is given by the administrators why.

The protestors propose that all the shares be sold and proceeds be shared equally among all the beneficiaries.  This is an equitable proposal.

Consequently, this court proceeds to confirm the grant herein on the following terms:

That all capital assets be distributed as proposed by the administrators in paragraph 5 of the affidavit in support of summons for confirmation of grant sworn by T N M and M W M on 31st March, 2014.

That all shares as listed in the affidavit aforesaid be sold and proceeds be distributed to all beneficiaries equally.  For the purposes of the interests of T N M, she will be considered a unit for the purposes of distribution of the proceeds from the share with her share going to T N M to hold in trust.

That all cash in bank be ascertained and same to be distributed as hereunder:

40% for the benefit of T N W to be held in trust by T N M

40% to the 2 widows equally

20% to all other beneficiaries equally.

Orders accordingly.

Dated, Signed and Delivered at Nakuru this10th day of March, 2016.

A. K. NDUNG'U

JUDGE