BACHELOR OF LAWS

BLW 3103: LAW OF SUCCESSION

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Lillian Vungo (LL.D Candidate, University of South Africa, SA;
LL.M, University of Leeds, UK; LL.B(Hons), Moi University; Dip.in Laws, K.S.L; Advocate of
the High Court of Kenya)
Email: lvungo@mku.ac.ke

Course Objectives:
General: The student should be able to understand the role which the law of succession plays in
the orderly devolution of property of the deceased to the beneficiaries within the legal framework
of the Constitution of Kenya,2010, the Law of Succession Act and Case Law.
Specific objectives – at the end of the course the student should be able to –
i. Review the historical background of the law of succession in Kenya
ii. Explain define the scope and purpose of the Law of Succession
iii. Explain the conflicts of succession laws
iv. Demonstrate the legal mechanism of making a will and other succession/dispositive
instruments
v. Learn the rules of intestacy or intestacy succession

Recommended Readings:
1. WM Musyoka Law of Succession (Nairobi, Lawafrica 2010) – Musyoka 1
2. WM Musyoka A Casebook on the Law of Succession (Nairobi, Lawafrica 2010) –
Musyoka 2
3. JHC Morris Theubald on the Laws of Wills (London, Sweet & Maxwell 1947)
 4. E Cotran Casebook on Kenya Customary Law (Nairobi Professional Books Ltd & Nairobi
University Press 1987)
NB: Statutory documents and case law form part of the mandatory readings.
MODE OF ASSESSMENT:
CAT 1 & 2 shall make 30% of the total marks to be earned.
The final examination (70%) shall consist of five questions out of which three are to be attempted
(including a compulsory one).
C.A.T. 1: WEEK 5
C.A.T. 2: WEEK 10
OUTLINE

WEEK 1, 2 & 3:
• Introduction
• History of the law of succession in Kenya.
o Law of succession before 1981- Africans, Muslims, Hindus & Europeans
o Law of Succession after 1 July 1981
Readings:
• Musyoka 1, pp 9-27
• Benjawa Jembe v Priscilla Nyondo (1912) 4 EALR 160
• In Re Ruenji’ s Estate (2008) 1 KLR 865 HCt
• In Re Ogola’ s Estate (2008) 1 KLR 869 HCt
• In Re Kibiego (2008) 1 KLR 695 HCt (widow proper person to receive letters of
administration)
• Ngatia v Ngatia (2008) 1 KLR 850 HCt
• Mary Wanjiru Githatu v Esther Wanjiru Kiarie [2010] eKLR ( who is a widow?)
• Mmusi & 3 Ors v Ramantele & Anor MAHLB – 000836-10 (HCt of Botswana)
• Charan Singh Chadha & Anor v Mohinder Singh Chadha & Ors [1961] EA 637 – testate
succession for Hindus in Kenya
• Bessan Kaur v Rattan Singh [1952] 25 KLR 24 – marriage outside the colony
• Phyllis Njoki Karanja & 2 ors v Rosemary Mueni Karanja & anor [2009] eKLR (CA) (who
is a widow?)
 • Catherine Nyaguthii Mbauni v Gregory Maina Mbauni [2009] eKLR (CA) (grandchildren
not heirs, no discrimination against females)
Mode of delivery: lectures
Objectives
• To understand the various laws of Succession that applied to various socio-cultural
groups in Kenya before 1st July, 1981 when The Law Succession Act, Cap 160, came into
force.

WEEK 4, 6, 7 & 8– TESTATE SUCCESSION

• Nature and function of wills
• Creation of a will
• Property passing upon death other than by will:
Survivorship, Nomination and Donatio mortis causa
• Revocation, alteration and revival of wills
• Construction of wills
Readings:
• Musyoka 1, pp 29 – 90
• Ngatia v Ngatia (Oral will)
• Ndolo v Ndolo (2008) 1 KLR 742 CA1 (excluding some beneficiaries)
• Lemage v Good ban (1865) LR 1P and D 57
• Cain v Moon (1896) 2 QB 283
• Wildish v Fowler (1892) 8 TLR 457
• Woodward v Woodward (1992) RTR 35 COA
• Dew v Clark (1826) 3 ADD 79
• Vaghella v Vaghella (1999) 2 EA 351
• Cheese v Lovejoy (1877) 2 P and D 251
• Re Morton’s Goods (1887) 12 P & D 14
• In the Goods of Lewis (1858) 1 SW and Tr. 31
• Gill v Gill (1909)
• Re Bird Deceased 919700 EA 289
o In Re Estate of Njuguna (2008) 1 KLR 831 HCt (excluding some beneficiaries)
o In the matter of the Estate of Hasalon Mwangi Kahero [2013] eKLR (HCt) – (non-family
member)
o In the matter of the Estate of GKK (deceased) [2013] eKLR (HCt) (formal requirements of
making a will)
o Perrin v Morgan (1943) AC 399
o Scale v Rwalings (1892) AC 342
o Re Harrison (1885) 30 ChD 390
o Re Bailey (1951) Ch 407
o Pickles v Helliwell (1961) 2 Ch 580
o Re Smalley (1929) 2 Ch 112
o Thorn v Dickens (1906) WN 54
o Re Potter’s Will Trust (1994) Ch 70
o Re Raphael (1972) 522
o Re Feather (1945) Ch 343
o In the Matter of the Estate of Ivo Murray, Deceased (1938) 18 (1) KLR 65
Mode of delivery: lectures
Objectives
• To appreciate the advantages of dying testate by understanding the functions of a will.
• To understand the categories of Wills
• To understand the legal formalities of Will as per the Law of Succession Act
• To understand the requisite capacity by Testator when executing a Will
• To understand the various ways in which Testator can revoke a Will
• To appreciate the basic principles that guide Courts in construing Wills.

WEEK 9, 11 & 12 – INTESTACY SUCCESSION

Readings:
Musyoka 1, pp 96 – 111
Sections 32-42 Cap 160 Law of Succession
• Mwathi v Mwathi and Another {1995-1998} 1 EA 229

• In the Matter of Estate of Kihara Githambaa (deceased) High Court P&A 364 0f 1989

• Rono v Rono [2005] 1 EA 363

• Kuria v Kuria [2004] KLR

• In the Matter of the Estate of Chumo Arusei, Eldoret High Court P & A 26 of 1998

• In the Materr of the Estate of Silas Kibiwott Rono, Eldoret High Court, P & A 130 of 2000

• Catherine Nyaguthii Mbauni v Gregory Maina Mbauni [2009] eKLR (CA) (grandchildren
not heirs, no discrimination against females)

• In the matter of the Estate of Hasalon Mwangi Kahero [2013] eKLR (HCt) – (non-family
member)
• Eunice Karimi Kibunja v Mwirigi M’ Ringera Kibunja [2013] eKLR (CA) (divorced
daughter could inherit)
Mode of delivery: lectures
Objectives
• To understand the various ways in which intestacy occurs
• To understand the rules of division of property of a deceased person who dies without
having made a will

WEEK 13 & 14– PROTECTION OF ESTATES:

• Protection provisions
• Intermeddling
• Public officers and protection of estates
• Protection under the penal code
Readings:
Musyoka 1, pp 119 – 124
o In the Matter of the Estate of Dr. John Muia Kalii(deceased) Machakos High Court Succession
Cause no.81 of 1995
o Shital Bimal Shah & 2 Others v Akiba Bank Ltd & 4 Others (2005) KLR
o Ombogo V. Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya Limited (2000) 2 E.A 481
o In the Matter of the Estate of Wilson Nzuki Nyolo (deceased) Machakos High Court P&A 152
of 2000
o In Re Katumo & Anor (2003) 2 EA 509
o Ombogo v Standard Chartered Bank (2001) 2 EA 431 (CA)
o In the matter of the Estate of GKK (deceased) [2013] eKLR (HCt) (formal requirements of
making a will)
o Wilson Kamau Muigai v Njeri Kamau & anor [2013] eKLR (HCt) – injunction
o Josephine Wambui Wachuka & ors v Margaret Njeri Njoroge [2013] eKLR (HCt) – injunction
Mode of delivery: lectures
Objectives
• To understand how the law protects the estate.
• To understand the role of various public officers who have a duty to protect property of
deceased persons within their jurisdiction
• To understand the various acts which are considered to amount to intermeddling.

WEEK 15 - REVISION

WEEK 16 & 17: END OF SEMESTER EXAMS

Signed By

Quality Assurance Officer:

Head of Department:
Dean