Michael Wachira Gitabi v Charity Muthoni Gitabi & Ann Muthoni [2020] KEHC 5245 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT KERUGOYA

HIGH COURT CIVIL APPEAL NO.  35   OF  2013

MICHAEL WACHIRA GITABI.......................................................APPELLANT

VERSUS

CHARITY MUTHONI GITABI................................................1st RESPONDENT

ANN MUTHONI...................................................................2ND  RESPONDENT

DIRECTIONS

1. The issue which is pending before this Court   is directions on  how the  Appeal   should  proceed  since the appellant  passed away  during   the  pendency  of  this  appeal.

2. There are pending applications in Court and the substantive  appeal has  never  been  heard.   An objection was raised by counsel for the respondents on the ground that   the deceased appellant’s   widow Julia Wanjiru Gichangi has been issued with letters of administration in Succession Cause No. 37 of 2012 and has priority to administer his   estate.

3. On  26th  June, 2019   the   court  held  that  since  the  wife  of  the  deceased  had  obtained  a  full  Grant  of   letters  of  administration  she  be  joined    in  this   appeal   to  substitute   the  appellant.

4. The substituted   appellant that is Julia  Wanjiru  Gichangi   filed  an  affidavit    sworn  on  11th  of  October, 2019.    In the affidavit she indicated that she did not wish to proceed with the Appeal.

5. The court directed Michael Wachira and the 2nd Respondent to file an affidavit in response within 14 days.  They filed affidavits which I have considered.

6. The substituted   appellant filed an affidavit on 6th of February, 2020 and at paragraph 4 of   the affidavit she  has  stated  that  -

“Though the court  ordered  that  I  be substituted  as  the  appellant  since    I had  full  grant    of  letters  of  administration  in respect  of  my  late  husband  I do  not  wish  to  pursue  the  matters  on  behalf  of  the  family  the  late  Gichangi.

That   Michaeal Wachira   Gitabi   who is   my  brother  in  law  is  better  placed  to  pursue  this   matter  on  behalf  of  his  family.”

She has prayed that the court do exercise discretion and make an  order  substituting  her  name   with  that  of  Micheal  Wachira  Gitabi.

7. The court had ordered substitution of Julia  Wanjiru  Gichangi  as  the  appellant,  and  in  her  affidavit  she   has  stated  that  she  has  a full  grant  of  letters  of  administration  in   the  estate  of   her  deceased   husband.

8. The  position  in  the  matter  is that   the  appellant  has  been  substituted  by    the   administrator  of  his  estate.

9. It  would seem the  appeal  has   hit  a snag  as  the  substituted  party  does  not seem  to be  interested  in  this  appeal  and   has  indeed  applied  to   have  it  withdrawn  and  the  other  parties  have  not   objected.

10. I direct that  the  parties  to  take  a  mention  for  further   orders.

Dated, signed at Kerugoya 29th day of  May 2020

L.W.  GITARI

JUDGE