Tabitha Wangui Mwangi v Wagichugu Mbuitu [2014] KEHC 1096 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT KERUGOYA

MISCELLANEOUS SUCCESSION CAUSE NO. 32 OF 2013

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MBUITU NDEGWA (DECEASED)

AND

TABITHA WANGUI MWANGI..............................................APPLICANT

VERSUS

WAGICHUGU MBUITU..................................................RESPONDENT

(Being an appeal from judgment and order of the Resident Magistrate at kerugoya inSuccession

Cause NO.  298 of 2001 delivered by Hon. J.N. Onyiego Resident Magistrate on 18th July 2003)

JUDGMENT

This matter despite the heading is actually an appeal emanating from the judgment of the then Resident Magistrate in the subordinate court at Kerugoya in the succession cause NO. 298 of 2001.  The letters of Administration in the said cause was issued to the wife of deceased, Wagichugu Mbuitu in 2003.  Upon confirmation  in 2003, an objection  was raised  by the brother of the deceased claiming  that the estate  of his brother  actually belonged  to their late father and  his deceased  brother held it in trust and  that they were to share the same  equally.  The subordinate court heard the objection and overruled the objector stating that the brother/objector should have commenced his claim during the life time of the deceased.  The court however gave him one acre where he was occupying prior to the demise of the deceased brother.  The objector appeared satisfied with the judgment of the court and did not appeal against the same.  He  passed on  in 2011 and upon  his demise, his wife, the present appellant brought this  present  appeal after  obtaining leave to file appeal out of time on 2nd November, 2011 at Embu High Court vide Miscellaneous Application  195/11.

In her appeal the appellant  has listed five grounds as the basis of the appeal but  the main gist of the grounds  is that  the estate  the subject matter of the succession cause  in the subordinate  court actually belonged to her father  in law and it was  only held by his deceased brother in law  in trust of her husband  being  the brother to the deceased.

The appellants contends that the Learned Magistrate erred by not considering the prevailing circumstances and the evidence that the estate was supposed to be divided equally between the brothers.  The appellant contends that the estate was a family land and did not belong exclusively the deceased’s brother in law.  She is faulting the trial magistrate for depriving her deceased husband his share of inheritance.

The respondent has opposed the appeal saying that the same lacks merit as the trial magistrate correctly evaluated the evidence presented before him and applied the law correctly.  The respondent further submitted that the deceased  was  the sole registered owner of  the property  forming the estate and the deceased brother never brought  any claim during the life time  of the deceased and it was not clear  on what basis  was he claiming part of the estate upon the demise of  his brother  and yet he was  not a beneficiary in accordance  with Section 35 Law  of Succession Act.

I have considered both the submissions made and the arguments put forward by the appellant and the respondents.  I have also looked at the judgment of the subordinate court and the main issue for determination for me is whether a succession cause is a proper forum for a party claiming ownership rights over an estate to ventilate his cause.  The Law of Succession Act lays down procedures   to be followed in succession causes.  The Act deals only in cases of intestate and testamentary succession to the estate of deceased persons.  Under Section 2 (1) of the Act provides as follows

“ ………….the provisions of the act shall have universal application to all cases  of intestate or testamentary  succession to the estates of deceased  persons dying after  the commencement  of this Act to the administration  of the estates of those person”.

A person claiming beneficiary interests of property of a deceased person can state his/her claim in a succession cause.  These are either persons dependants within  the meaning of  Section 29, those that entitled to benefit from distribution of the estate  pursuant  to Section 35  of the Actand any other person who may have been given any  of the properties  or bought  the same during the life time  of deceased person.   Where a dispute arises in any of the above instances then a court in accordance with Section 66 and 70of theAct shall proceed and determine the dispute.

However in situations where  a party have a cause of action  or a claim  against the ownership  of the property  of a deceased  person  whether  by way of adverse possession  or contract, or must  then  such a claim  is outside  the succession causes and are better handled  by Environment and Land Court  that have jurisdiction to deal  with all disputes relating to land .   I do find that the Learned Magistrate was spot on when he observed in his judgment that the applicant,

“wants to get land by way of adverse possession through a succession cause”.The same is unfounded in law and the Learned Magistrate was correct in that regard.

The subordinate court properly directed itself on the evidence presented and I do not find   any basis to interfere with his decision.  The appeal filed before me therefore lacks merit and the same is dismissed.  In view of the relationship between the parties herein I consider it appropriate to let each party pay her own costs.  Order accordingly.

R.K. LIMO

JUDGE

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT KERUGOYA THIS 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014in the presence of

The applicant

Mr Magee holding brief for Maina Kagio for the Respondent

Mbogo Court Clerk