In re Estate of Protasio Njeru (Deceased) [2023] KEHC 26208 (KLR) | Rectification Of Grant | Esheria

In re Estate of Protasio Njeru (Deceased) [2023] KEHC 26208 (KLR)

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In re Estate of Protasio Njeru (Deceased) (Succession Cause 23 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 26208 (KLR) (30 November 2023) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 26208 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Meru

Succession Cause 23 of 2023

TW Cherere, J

November 30, 2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PROTASIO NJERU (DECEASED) AND IN THE MATTER OF SUMMONS FOR CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF ADMINISTRATION TESTATE (WITH WILL ANNEXED).

In the matter of

Sigismond K. Njeru

1st Petitioner

Henry Paul Ireri Njeru

2nd Petitioner

Christina Warue Njeru

3rd Petitioner

Ruling

Brief Facts 1. The grant in this matter was confirmed on 23rd November, 2023. Petitioners by summons for rectification dated and filed on 27th November, 2023 by seek orders of rectification on the grounds That:(1)The following properties were omitted as an oversighti.Nyambene/Kirindine A/2073ii.Nyambene/Kirindine A/2597iii.Nyambene/Kirindine A/3644iv.Nyambene/Kirindine A/3803v.Tigania East/Ankamia/4794,vi.Tigania East/Ankamia/5975,vii.Tigania, East/Ankamia/8296,viii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5091,ix.Tigania East/Ankamia/5477x.Tigania East/Ankamia/9532,xi.Tigania East/Ankamia/5464,xii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5474,xiii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5475,xiv.Tigania East/Ankamia/5476,xv.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/199xvi.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/544,xvii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/649,xviii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/690,xix.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/701xx.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/723,xxi.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1080xxii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1189,xxiii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1585xxiv.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1586(2)The Petitioners have discovered that LR. Ntima/Igoki/4330 which was included among deceased’s assets is not registered in his name.

2. The summons is supported by a joint affidavit sworn by the Petitioners Sigismond.K. Njeru, Christina Warue Njeru and Henry Paul Njeru on 27th November, 2023. Annexed to the affidavit is a consent to the rectification signed by the Petitioners and the other two adult beneficiaries Lawrence Christopher Njeru and Antony Murithi Njeru on 27th November, 2023.

3. Rectification of grants is provided for in section 74 of the Law of Succession Act, Cap 160, Laws of Kenya and Rule 43(1) of the Probate and Administration Rules. Section 74 provides as follows:74. Errors may be rectified by court:Errors in names and descriptions, or in setting forth the time and place of the deceased’s death, or the purpose in a limited grant, may be rectified by the court, and the grant of representation, whether before or after confirmation, may be altered and amended accordingly.”Rule 43(1) provides as follows:“Where the holder of a grant seeks pursuant to the provisions of section 74 of the Act rectification of an error in the grant as to the names or descriptions of any person or thing or as to the time or place of death of the deceased or, in the case of a limited grant, the purpose for which the grant was made, he shall apply by summons in Form 110 for such rectification through the registry and in the cause in which the grant was made.”

4. From the language of section 74 of the Law of Succession Act and Rule 43(1) of the Probate and Administration Rules, the scope of rectification of grants of representation is limited to errors in names and descriptions, or in setting forth the time and place of the deceased’s death, or the purpose in a limited grant. I may add that such other minor errors in that genre could also be rectified. (See In the matter of the estate of Geoffrey Kinuthia Nyamwinga (deceased) [2013] eKLR and In the matter of the estate of Hasalon Mwangi Kahero [2013] eKLR.

5. In compliance with a court order dated 27th November, 2023, Petitioners filed search certificates for LR. Ntima/Igoki/4330 which is in the name of Peter Maina Ngure and for assets in (1) (i) to (xxvi) above all of which are in the name of the deceased Protasio Njeru and I therefore find that the rectification is merited in the circumstances.

Orders 6. Accordingly, for the reasons set out above, it is hereby ordered:1. Ntima/Igoki/4330 shall be deleted from the list of deceased’s assets2. The grant shall be rectified to include the following assets:i.Nyambene/Kirindine A/2073ii.Nyambene/Kirindine A/2597iii.Nyambene/Kirindine A/3644iv.Nyambene/Kirindine A/3803v.Tigania East/Ankamia/4794,vi.Tigania East/Ankamia/5975,vii.Tigania, East/Ankamia/8296,viii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5091,ix.Tigania East/Ankamia/5477x.Tigania East/Ankamia/9532,xi.Tigania East/Ankamia/5464,xii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5474,xiii.Tigania East/Ankamia/5475,xiv.Tigania East/Ankamia/5476,xv.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/199xvi.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/544,xvii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/649,xviii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/690,xix.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/701xx.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/723,xxi.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1080xxii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1189,xxiii.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1585xxiv.Kiegoi/Kinyanka/15863. The assets in order (2) (i) to (xxiv) above shall be registered in the names of Sigismond.K. Njeru, Christina Warue Njeru and Henry Paul Njeru to hold in trust for all beneficiaries of Njeru Industries Ltd.4. The assets in order (2) (i) to (vii) above shall be charged to Belgian Development Cooperation for purposes of preserving the estate5. The assets in order (2) (viii) to (xiv) above shall be charged to Family Bank Ltd for purposes of preserving the estate6. The assets in order (2) (xv) to (xxiv) above shall be charged to Oiko Credit for purposes of preserving the estate7. Grant of Probate shall issue as ordered on 23rd November, 2023 and as rectified by these orders.8. Mention on 29th February, 2024 to confirm compliance with these orders9. Costs shall be in the cause

Schedule A (Amended) a. Immovable Assets 1. Ntima/Igoki/1880

2. Ntima/Igoki/4331

3. Ntima/Igoki/4007

4. Ntima/Igoki/2050

5. Ntima/Igoki/2134

6. Ntima/Igoki/2136

7. Ntima/Igoki/779

8. Ntima/Igoki/2043

9. Ntima/Igoki/2135

10. Kiegoi/Kinyanka /544

11. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/649

12. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/723

13. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1189

14. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/690

15. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1586

16. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/199

17. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1080

18. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1585

19. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/701

20. Nyambene/Kirindine A/4598

21. Nyambene/Kirindine A/2799

22. Nyambene/Kirindine A/1146

23. Nyambene/Kirindine A/74

24. Nyambene/Kirindine A/118

25. Nyambene/Kirindine A/169

26. Nyambene/Kirindine A/141

27. Nyambene/Kirindine A/88

28. Nyambene/Kirindine A/2073

29. Nyambene/Kirindine A/2597

30. Nyambene/Kirindine A/3644

31. Nyambene/Kirindine A/3803

32. Nyaki/Giaki/60

33. Nyaki/Giaki/1148

34. Nyaki/Giaki/1635

35. Nyaki/Giaki/1864

36. Nyaki/Giaki/2753

37. Nyaki/Thuura/2408

38. Nyambene/Kirindine A/2073

39. Nyambene/Kirindine A/2597

40. Nyambene/Kirindine A/3644

41. Nyambene/Kirindine A/3803

42. Tigania East/Ankamia/4794

43. Tigania East/Ankamia/5975

44. Tigania, East/Ankamia/8296

45. Tigania East/Ankamia/5091

46. Tigania East/Ankamia/5477

47. Tigania East/Ankamia/9532

48. Tigania East/Ankamia/5464

49. Tigania East/Ankamia/5474

50. Tigania East/Ankamia/5475

51. Tigania East/Ankamia/5476

52. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/199

53. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/544

54. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/649

55. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/690

56. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/701

57. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/723

58. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1080

59. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1189

60. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1585

61. Kiegoi/Kinyanka/1586

Schedule B Liabilities 1. I &M Bank Limited - USD 9,500,000/-

2. Incofin Inclusive Finance Fund Sa, Sicav-Raif - Agri-Finance Liquidity - USD 2,200,000/-

3. Oikocredit, Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society–Usd 3,000,000/-

4. Family Bank Ltd - KES. 21,800,757/-

5. Solution Sacco Society Ltd – KES. 3,965,896/-

6. Chai Sacco Society Ltd - KES. 2,560,150/

7. NCBA Bank Kenya Plc - KES. 8,265,438/-

8. Co-Operative Bank (K) Ltd - KES. 1,146,186/-

9. Equity Bank Kenya Ltd - KES. 150,000,000/-

10. Salaries - KES. 7,200,000/

11. Farmers Payment - KES. 1,209,619/-

12. Power and Lighting Co. Ltd - KES. 3,506,015/-

13. Student Fees for Dependents - KES. 779,936/-

14. Firewood Suppliers - KES. 2,889,193/-

15. Medical Operation Bill - KES. 5,000,000/-(Total estimated value KES. 2,442,723,190/- (Two billion, four hundred forty-two million, seven hundred twenty-three thousand, one hundred ninety.)

DATED AT MERU 30TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2023WAMAE. T. W. CHEREREJUDGEAppearancesFor Applicants –Mr. Anampiu for Ayub K. Anampiu & Company Advocates