In re Estate of M'Nkiria A Rugeti alias Nkiria Mbiro alias Nkiria Rugeti (Deceased) [2019] KEHC 10586 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT CHUKA

MISC SUCC. NO. 7 OF 2015

(FORMERLY CHUKA CM'S COURT SUCC. CAUSE NO. 22 OF 2013)

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF M'NKIRIA A RUGETI ALIAS NKIRIA MBIRO ALIAS NKIRIA RUGETI- (DECEASED)

AND

EVANGELINE CIAMBURA MUTEGI.......................1ST INTERESTED PARTY/APPLICANT

OSIRIA KATHOME MUTEGI.....................................2ND INTERESTED PARTY/APPLICANT

VERSUS

EUSTACE BASKWALE NYAMU...................................................PETITIONER/RESPONDENT

R U L I N G

1. This cause relates to the estate of the late M'Nkiria Mbiro alias  M'Nkiria Rugeti (deceased) who died  on 5th October 1993 resident at Kithangani Meru South(Now Tharaka Nithi County).

2.  According to the petition for letters of administration filed, the deceased died intestate leaving the following surviving him namely:-

(i) Eustace Baskwale Nyamu

(ii) M'Ikithia Nkiria

(iii) Kenneth Micheni Njeru

3. The estate of the deceased as listed in the petition herein comprises the following properties namely:-

a) Karingani/Weru/266 and

b) Karingani/Weru/284

4. The petitioner herein was granted letters of administration on 6th June 2013 and later on 10th February, 2014 the grant  was confirmed.

5. Evangeline Ciambura Mutegi and Osiria Kathome Mutegi, the applicants  herein on 8th October 2015 took out summons for revocation of the said grant dated 21st September, 2015 seeking nullification of the said grant on the following grounds namely:-

(i) That the trial magistrate lacked pecuniary jurisdiction under  Section 48 of the Act to entertain the cause as the estate was worth more than Kshs.100,000/- .

(ii) That the Interested Parties were not involved in the succession proceedings.

(iii) That the proceedings to obtain was defective in substance and  that the grant was obtained through fraud and concealment of material fact particular the fact that the Interested  Party/applicants had purchased 2 acres out of  Karingani/Weru/266 from the deceased and the fact that the applicants have been occupying that portion for almost 37 years.

6. In their Supporting Affidavit  done through the first applicant, have reiterated the above grounds. They contend that the two parcels of lands comprising the estate excluding developments are worth over Kshs.100,000/- and exhibited copies of green cards in respect to the parcels showing that the two parcels measures approximately 6 acres in total. They have further deposed that they purchased 2 acres out of Karingani/Weru/266, a fact they claimed was concealed from court.  They have further deposed  that they have been in occupation of the 2 acres for over 37 years.

7. The claims of purchase were repeated during trial with Osilia Kathome Mutegi (PW1) claiming that her claim together with the 1st applicant - a Co- wife is based on a purchase they did in 1978 from the deceased.  She stated   that the consideration then was in form of 2 cows and 3 goats.  She recalled  that their late husband gave out the 2 cows and the 3 goatsWhen challenged to show any documentary proof she claimed that there was no  written document and that they were simply shown the parcel purchased and occupied it.  She claimed that the houses constructed on the farm were burnt in April this year. She however could not tender any document to show that she had  reported the incident to the police. She blamed the respondent for the arson.

8. The applicants' evidence was supported by Kanga Rucha (PW2) who told  this court that he played a role in transaction between the deceased herein and Mutegi (deceased) - the husband to the applicants.  He told this court  that he brokered the deal between the two deceased persons and the total  consideration agreed was Kshs.1000/- which was agreed to be in from of a caw and a calf valued at Kshs.700/- and 2 goats  valued at Kshs.300/-.  He further stated that he is the one who went and took the goats from the late  Mutegi to the deceased herein.  He could not however recall when the transaction took place.  He further conceded that there  was no written agreement as at that time agreements were not reduced to writing.

9. The respondent has opposed this application vide a Replying Affidavit sworn on 31st March 2017. The Respondent has termed the applicants strangers. He has deposed that the deceased had allowed them to plough the  2 acre parcel but denied that the portion had been purchased.  He contended  that prior to the demise of the deceased the applicants had been stopped from ploughing the portion and had infact moved out of the estate.

10. The respondent testifying as DW1 told this court no one used to live in  parcel No. Karingani/Weru/266 until 1985 when he took possession of the parcel. It was his evidence that he did not find the late Mutegi or any of the applicants therein.

11. This court has considered this application the evidence tendered and submissions tendered by both sides. There are 2 issues for determination in this matter which are as follows namely:-

(i)  Whether the Interested Parties/applicants have a legal  stake/interests on the estate.

(ii)  Whether the lower court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

(i)  Whether the applicants have established legal interests on theestate.

The evidence tendered in this matter by the applicants to prove their claims is oral and bereft of any documentary proof. That issue is not contested. I have considered the evidence tendered and apart from the oral evidence of PW2 the supposed witness to the transaction, the applicants case is really not supported by cogent evidence or facts. They were unable to table any evidence to show that they had taken occupation or proof that their houses  were burnt down. There was no report from the police or the area chief to show that any such arson ever took place and whether any action was taken against any suspect.  This court finds that the applicants have not discharged   the onus of proving their case on a balance of probability.

12. In addition to the above it became apparent during trial that the applicants' claims hinged on their late husband's claim on the estate.  This is because the applicants told this court that their late husband Mr. Mutegi purchased the 2  acre plot by paying the consideration in form of 2 cows and 3 goats. There was no evidence that the Interested Parties had taken out letters of administration for the estate of the late Mutegi for them to have capacity to take any action on behalf of his estate. This clearly shows that the applicant's claim by a dint of Section 82 of the Law of Succession Act is unsustainable ab  initio.

13. The other legal hurdle to the applicant's claim is the provision ofSection 6 of Land Control Act (Cap 302 of Laws of Kenya). There was no evidence presented before this court to show that the transaction was given green light by Land Control Board.  The claim by the applicants' on the estate from whichever angle is unsustainable  in law and this court finds it as such.

(ii) Whether the lower court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

14. It is quite apparent that looking at the size of the estate (over 6 acres) by a dint of Section 48 of the Law of Succession Act the lower court clearly lacked pecuniary jurisdiction because as of 2013 when the grant was issued, the monetary jurisdiction of a Magistrate's court was capped at less than  Kshs.100,000/-. The Chief Magistrate's Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction and under the provisions of Section 76 of Law of Succession Act this court can at its own motion revoke a grant if any of the conditions thereunder obtains. I find that the grant was obtained due to inadvertent mistake by the Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. C.K. Obara because he had no jurisdiction to issue a grant over an estate whose monetary value was way above Kshs.100,000/- taking judicial notice of the value of land in Karingani  Area.  On this ground alone, the grant issued on 6th June 2013 is hereby revoked.

A fresh grant is hereby issued to Eustace Baskwale Nyamu under Section 66 of the Law of Succession Act.  I also in view of the age of this cause grant him liberty to apply for confirmation of grant before the expiry of statutory  period.  I shall make no order as to costs so each party to bear own costs.

Dated, signed, and delivered at Chuka this 14th  day of January, 2019.

R. K. LIMO

JUDGE

14/1/2019

Ruling signed, dated and delivered in the open court in presence of Mugo for applicant, the Interested Party and Respondent in person.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

14/1/2019