In re Estate of M'thirika Mburire (Deceased) [2020] KEHC 6004 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT CHUKA

SUCCESSION CAUSE NO.224 OF 2015

IN THE MATTR OF THE ESTATE OF M'THIRIKA MBURIRE (DECEASED)

JOHN MUTEGI MBURIRE........................................PROTESTOR/APPLICANT

VERSUS

JOYCE MBINYU MBAKA.....................................PETITIONER/RESPONDENT

R U L I N G

1. Before this court is an application dated 29th January 2019 brought by way  of summons under Rule 49 and 73 P&A Rules.  The applicant (John  Mutegi Mburire) is seeking for the following orders namely;

i) That he be granted leave by this Court to Appeal to the court of appeal at Nyeri.

ii) That there be a stay of execution/implementation of certificate of confirmation of grant made to the Petitioner on 23rd January 2019.

iii) Costs

2. The grounds upon which this application has been brought are;

a) That the applicant was aggrieved by the judgment of this court.

b) That the applicant is desirous to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the whole judgment of this court.

c) That the applicant intend to pose the following questions at the Court of Appeal.

(i) Whether this court was correct by holding that the deceased  died on 24th December 1995 as per the Death Certificate or  whether he was buried on 23rd December 1995 with a family  meeting taking place on 24th December 1995.

(ii) Whether the deceased left a varied oral  will and whether the  said oral will as an item in the agenda of the meeting on 24th  December 1995.

(iii) Whether the distribution of the estate ordered by this court  was in tandem with the wishes of the deceased.

(iv) Whether the deceased left a will.

(v) Whether this court exercised its discretion judiciously.

(vi) That the Applicant has a constitutional right to appeal and  should not be hindered.

(vii) That the Applicant feels he has high chances of success in the  appeal.

(viii) That a stay of execution is desirous to preserve the estate.

(ix) That unless stay is granted the applicant's house will be  demolished in Magumoni/Mwonge/536.

(x) That the Respondent stands to suffer no prejudice if stay of  execution is granted.

3. The Applicant has supported the above grounds with an affidavit sworn on  29th January 2019 where he has basically reiterated the same.

4. In his written submissions done through Ms Waklaw Advocates, learned  counsel for the Appellant, the  Appellant has submitted that he has come to  this court for leave because of the legal requirement for leave to appeal to  Court of Appeal.  He contends that he is desirous of a second legal opinion  of the Court of Appeal on the grounds he has listed which he terms pertinent.   He submits that his right of appeal is hinged on right to access justice under  Article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya.

5. On the other hand, Joyce Mbinyu Mbaka, the Respondent herein has  opposed this application through a Replying Affidavit sworn on 2nd August  2019. She contends that the applicant filed a notice of appeal without the  leave of this  court and that he has not demonstrated that he had any serious  ground of appeal.

6. The Respondent contends that the Applicant's only interest is to cause delay  to the implementation of the decision of this court because he is the only  one currently utilizing the estate.  She  further avers that the Applicant has  not demonstrated what prejudice he would suffer if the grant is  implemented.

7. This court has considered this application and the response made.  It is trite  that an aggrieved does not have an automatic right to appeal to the Court of  Appeal from a decision of this court in probate matters in appeal in probate  matters only lies with leave of this court.

8. This court therefore has a discretion to determine based on the material  placed before it whether or not to grant leave to appeal. In the case of Rhoda Wairimu Karanja & Another -vs- Mary Wangui Karanja & Another [2014] eKLR the Court of Appeal inter alia noted as follows:-

" leave to appeal will normally be granted where prima facie it    appears that there are grounds which merit serious judicial     consideration."

9. The Applicant in this matter  maintains that the deceased made an oral will  and if so if the decision of this court is in tandem with that will.

10. In my considered view that issue is not a frivolous one and merits re- consideration by the Court of Appeal.   I therefore find that the Applicant  has satisfied the criteria for this court to exercise its discretion to grant him  leave  to appeal which I hereby do.

11. However on the question of stay I am not satisfied that the applicant has  demonstrated sufficiently that he would suffer prejudice if the other  beneficiaries  who have been locked out can also enjoy the fruits of their  litigation.  This court found that they have every right to a share in the estate  and in my considered view their enjoyment of that right will not bar or  prejudice the Applicant's right to pursue an appeal against the decision of  this court.

In short, this court partly finds merit in the application dated 29th January  2019.  The Applicant is granted leave only in terms of prayer  I which is the  order that the Applicant is hereby granted leave by this court to appeal to the  Court of Appeal and has 21 days to do so.  In default the leave granted shall  abate.

The prayer of stay of execution of the certificate of confirmation is  disallowed for the aforesaid reasons. Costs of this application shall abide by  the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Dated, signed and delivered this 6th day of May 2020.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

6/5/2020

Ruling signed, dated and delivered in the open court in presence of Kirimi for Applicant and in absence of Respondent.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

6/5/2020.