In re Estate of Muchuru Njeru (Deceased) [2019] KEHC 6246 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT CHUKA

SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 209 OF 2019

(FORMERLY CHUKA PM SUCC. CAUSE NO.230  OF 2010)

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE  MUCHURU NJERU (DECEASED)

FREDRICK NYAGA MUCHURU..............1STADMINISTRATOR/APPLICANT

VERSUS

JOHN MICHENI RIUNGU......................2ND ADMINISTRATOR/PROTESTOR

J U D G E M E N T

1. This cause relates to the estate of the late Muchuru  Njeru (deceased) who  died on 7th January 2005 domiciled at Mariani Sub- Location. The deceased  died  intestate and left the following children surviving him namely:-

i. Cianjoka Muchuru

ii. Erastus Mbungu Muchuru

iii. Atanasio Mutegi

iv. Rusia Ciandeke (deceased)

v. James Mbuba

vi. Ndiga Muchuru

vii. John Micheni Riungu

2. The estate of the deceased comprised the following assets namely:-

i. L.R. Karingani/Ndagani/3751 -  2 acres

ii. Mariani Adjudication Section No.320 now registered as Karingani/Marinai/320 - 2 acres.

3. The record of proceedings in this cause shows that JOHN MICHENI  RIUNGU and FREDRICK NYAGA MUCHURU were appointed joint  administrators on 27th November 2017 after revocation of an earlier grant  issued on 21st February  2011.

4. Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru vide Summons for Confirmation of Grant dated  8th December 2017 applied for confirmation of grant given that the  administrators had been granted leave to apply for confirmation of grant  before expiry of 6 months statutory period.  In his application, the 1st  administrator proposed to have the estate distributed as follows:-

(A) L.R. KARINGANI/NDAGANI/3751

i. John Micheni Riungu  - 0. 4 acres

ii. Atanasio Mutegi Muchuru - 0. 4 acres

iii. Ndiga Riungu Muchuru  - 0. 4 acres

iv. James Mbuba Muchuru  - 0. 4 acres

v. Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru  - 0. 4 acres

(B) L.R KARINGANI/MARIANI/320

i. Josphine Cianjoka

ii. Idah Maruta    1. 0 acres

iii. Albert Gitari Mbungu

iv. Mwiti Nyaga

v. James Kirimi Mbuba   1. 9 acres jointly

vi. Nicholas Murithi ndiga

vii. Christopher Mwiti Michine

viii. Kathure Atanasio Mutegi

5. The 2nd administrator appears to have been unimpressed by the proposal and  filed an affidavit of protest sworn on 4th May2018.  In his protest, John  Micheni Riungu asserted that the deceased prior to his demise had  bequeathed some of his properties to his sons and transferred the properties  to the beneficiaries and that he only left behind L.R No.  Karingani/Ndagani/3751 and L.R No. Karingani/Mariani/320.

6. The protestor agreed with the 1st administrator that the deceased had  expressed his wish that Karingani/Mariani/320 be given to his  grandchildren and he had no objection to that.

7. He asserted that parcel No. Karingani/Ndagani/3751 was meant to be his and  he should be the sole beneficiary.  He has averred that the 1st administrator  was parcel No. Karingani/Ndagani/3750 but he denies that he was given the  parcel on account of the hospital bills he paid.  He has denied that he   benefitted from a parcel known as Karingani/Mariani/3760.

8. At the hearing of the protest herein, the 1st administrator reiterated that he  redeemed parcel of land No.Karingani/Ndagani/3750 which had been used  as security for hospital bill at Chogoria Hospital in respect of their late  mother- Martha Muchuru.  He further agreed with the protestor on the fact  that the deceased had bequeathed the following sons with the following  parcels in his lifetime;

i. Erastus Mbungu Riungu -  L.R Karingani/Ndagani/3779&Karingani/

Mariani/317

ii. John Micheni Riungu   -  L.R Karingani/Mariani/3760

iii. Ndiga Riungu Njeru   - L. R Karingani/Mariani/3604

iv. Jeremano Mbuba     -  L.R Karingai/Mariani/3859

v. Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru  - LR. Karingani/Mariani/3605

vi. Atanasio Mutegi             - L.R Karingani/Mariani/3860

9. It was his evidence that the deceased prior to his death, deceased had  expressed his wish that the following grandchildren be given Parcel No.  Karingani/Mariani/320;

i. Albert Gitari Mbungu

ii. Mwiti Nyaga

iii. James Kirimi Mbuba

iv. Nicholas Murithi Ndiga

v. Christopher Mwiti Micheni &

vi. Kathure Atanasio Mutegi

He averred that all the grandchildren to benefit are children of all the sons of  the deceased.  He added that they decided to give the two daughters namely  Josphine Cianjoka and Idah Maruta 1 acre to share jointly after  compromising as a family to accommodate the daughters of the deceased.

10. The 1st administrator insisted that the 2nd administrator/protestor had  benefitted from parcel No. Karingani/Mariani/3760 and exhibited an official  search of the said property as a proof that he benefitted from a gift intervivos  from the deceased.  He has justified his proposed mode stating that he has  proposed to give each son an equal share in the estate and that Erastus  Mbungu Muchuru is not  getting any share in Ndagani because he had  already got his share from the deceased before the deceased died.

11. Erastus Riungu (PW2) testified and concurred  with the sentiments of the 1st  administrator.  He stated he is not claiming any share in the estate because  he had already benefitted from a previous gift from the deceased herein.  He  confirmed that all the brothers got an equal share in Mariani during the  lifetime of the deceased and that the protestor had sold off 1 acre from his  share at Mariani.

12. The protestor on his part testified that he was not aware that he had been  given parcel No. Mariani/3760 or my share and that he was glad to get a  share in Mariani but staked his claim on parcel No.  Karingani/Ndagani/3751 claiming that the deceased had given him that  parcel and that the 1st administrator hid the title to frustrate his late father's  effort to transfer the parcel to him.  He expressed no opposition to the  distribution of Karingani/Mariani/320 as proposed by the 1st administrator.

13. This court has considered the sentiments expressed by both the 1st  administrator and the protestor herein regarding the mode of distribution  suggested by the 1st administrator.  It is not disputed that the deceased  herein  bequeathed his son with the following properties during his lifetime;

i. Karingani/Mariani/3604  - Ndiga Riungu Njeru

ii. Karingani/Mariani/3605  - Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru

iii. Karingani/Mariani/317  - Erastus Mbungu Riungu

iv. Karingani/Mariani/3859  - Jeremano Mbuba

v. Karingani/Mariani/3860  - Atanasio Mutegi

vi. Karingani/Mariani/3760  - John Micheni Riungu

14. It is instructive to note that the protestor does not expressly deny the fact  that he was bequeathed parcel No.3760 as clearly indicated by the certificate   of official search tendered by the 1st administrator. He only in my view  faked ignorance but the fact is clear.  All the sons of the deceased herein  were given approximately 2 acres each in Mariani by their late father-  deceased herein.  The evidence of Erastus Mbungu Riungu, the oldest son of  the deceased testified in this court and looking at his age (80 years) , I could  tell that he was speaking with confidence indicative of the fact that he was  saying the truth particularly given the fact that he clearly indicated that he  was not  claiming any share from the estate despite being offered a share  by the protestor.  This court finds that the all the sons of the deceased  received a share of the estate during the lifetime of the deceased and such  gifts are normally taken into account when distributing the net estate of a  deceased person as provided under Section 42of Law of Succession Actin  order to achieve equity to all the children.

15. Going by the evidence on record, the following sons got the following  shares.

(i) John Micheni Riungu (parcel No.3760) - 0. 69 acres

The first administrator and Erastus Mbungu testified that he sold one acre  but they did not lay any evidence before me to show that the 1st  administrator sold part of what he was given.

(ii) Ndiga Riungu Njeru (Parcel No.3604)  - 2. 22 acres

(iii) Jeremano Mbuba (3859)    - 0. 91 acres

(iv) Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru (3605)  - 2 acres

(v) Atanasio Mutegi  (3860)    - 2 acres

16. The court also finds that it is not in dispute that the daughters of the  deceased Josphine  Cianjoka and Idah Maruta did not get a share.  Since Idah  Maruta is reported  to be deceased, the only daughter entitled to a share is  Cianjoka Muchuru and I note from the consent letter filed that she is  agreeable to the proposed mode of distribution made by the 1st administrator.   She will therefore get one acre proposed to be given to her since the  protestor is comfortable with  that proposal. I am also inclined to allow the  proposal given to the grand sons though there was no evidence that they  were taken care of by the deceased immediately prior to his demise.  This is  because all the family members have agreed that they get a share in parcel  No. Mariani/320 and since are the sons of the deceased are each represented  by their respective sons I find the proposed fair and in order to  promote  family cohesion this court will go by that agreed arrangements given the  evidence on record and the provisions of Section 42 of Law of Succession  Act.  This court hereby  confirms that the grant issued on 27th November  2017 as per the following mode of distribution:-

(A) L.R. Karingani/Mariani/320

i. Josphine Cianjoka   - 1 acre

ii. Albert Gitari Mbungu

iii. Mwiti Nyaga

iv. James Kirimi Mbuba

v. Nicholas Murithi Ndiga   to share jointly the 1 acre

vi. Christopher Mwiti Micheni

vii. Kathure Atanasio Mutegi

(B) L.R. Karingani/Ndagani/3751

i. John Micheni Riungu   - 0. 7 acres

ii. Jeremano Mbuba   - 0. 5 acres

iii. Atanasio Mutegi Muchuru - 0. 2 acres

iv. Ndiga Riungu Muchuru  - 0. 2 acres

v. Fredrick Nyaga Muchuru  - 0. 2 acres

I shall make no order as to costs.  Each to pay own costs.

Dated, signed and delivered at Chuka this  day of 1st July 2019.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

1/7/2019

Judgment dated, signed and delivered in the open court in presence of  Murithi for protestor and Kijaru holding brief for Mugo for  Petitioner/Administrator.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

1/7/2019