LAWS OF KENYA

THE LAW OF SUCCESSION ACT

CAP. 160

Revised and published by the National Council for Law Reporting

with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer

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Kenya

Law of Succession Act

Cap. 160

Legislation as at 31 December 2022

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160)
Contents
1. Short title ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Application of Act ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3. Interpretation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

4. Law applicable to succession ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Part II – WILLS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

5. Persons capable of making wills and freedom of testation ..................................................................................................... 5

6. Appointment by will of executor ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

7. Wills caused by fraud, coercion, importunity or mistake .......................................................................................................... 5

8. Form of wills ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

9. Oral wills ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

10. Proof of oral wills ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

11. Written wills ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

12. Incorporation of papers by reference ............................................................................................................................................ 6

13. Effect of gift to attesting witness ................................................................................................................................................... 6

14. Witness not disqualified by being executor ................................................................................................................................ 6

15. Existing wills ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

16. Formal validity of other wills ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

17. Will may be revoked or altered ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

18. Revocation of will ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

19. Revocation of will by testator's marriage ..................................................................................................................................... 7

20. Effect of obliteration, interlineation or alteration in will ...................................................................................................... 7

21. Revival of will ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

22. Construction of wills ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8

23. Failure of testamentary dispositions .............................................................................................................................................. 8

24. Election ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

25. [Repealed by Act No. 6 of 1984, Sch.] .......................................................................................................................................... 8

Part III – PROVISION FOR DEPENDANTS ................................................................................................................................................... 8

26. Provision for dependants not adequately provided for by will or on intestacy .............................................................. 8

27. Discretion of court in making order ............................................................................................................................................... 8

28. Circumstances to be taken into account by court in making order .................................................................................... 8

29. Meaning of dependant ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9

30. Limitation of time ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Part IV – GIFTS IN CONTEMPLATION OF DEATH .................................................................................................................................... 9

31. Characteristics ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Part V – INTESTACY ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

32. Excluded property ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10

33. Law applicable to excluded property .......................................................................................................................................... 10

34. Meaning of intestacy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

35. Where intestate has left one surviving spouse and child or children ............................................................................. 10

36. Where intestate has left one surviving spouse but no child or children ....................................................................... 11

37. Powers of spouse during life interest .......................................................................................................................................... 12

38. Where intestate has left a surviving child or children but no spouse ............................................................................ 12

39. Where intestate has left no surviving spouse or children ................................................................................................... 12

40. Where intestate was polygamous ................................................................................................................................................. 12

41. Property devolving upon child to be held in trust ................................................................................................................. 12

42. Previous benefits to be brought into account .......................................................................................................................... 13

Part VI – SURVIVORSHIP ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13

43. Presumption of survivorship ........................................................................................................................................................... 13

Part VII – ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES ............................................................................................................................................... 13

44. Application of Part ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13

45. No intermeddling with property of deceased person ........................................................................................................... 13

46. Duties of officers in relation to protection, etc., of deceased's property ........................................................................ 14

47. Jurisdiction of High Court ................................................................................................................................................................ 14

48. Jurisdiction of Magistrates ............................................................................................................................................................... 15

49. Territorial jurisdiction of Magistrates .......................................................................................................................................... 15

49A. Power to clear Court ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15

50. Appeals to High Court ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

50A. Power to make rules ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16

51. Application for grant ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16

52. Wilful and reckless statements in application for grant ...................................................................................................... 16

53. Forms of grant ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

54. Limited grants ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

55. No distribution of capital before confirmation of grant ....................................................................................................... 17

56. No grant to certain persons ........................................................................................................................................................... 17

57. Grant to body corporate ................................................................................................................................................................... 17

58. Number of administrators where there is a continuing trust ............................................................................................. 17

59. Renunciation of executorship ......................................................................................................................................................... 18

60. Probate where there are several executors .............................................................................................................................. 18

61. Discovery of codicil after grant of probate ............................................................................................................................... 18

62. No grant of administration until citation issued to executor ............................................................................................. 18

63. Grant of administration to universal or residuary legatee .................................................................................................. 18

64. Right to administration of representative of deceased residuary legatee ..................................................................... 19

65. Grant of administration where no executor nor residuary legatee nor representative of legatee ......................... 19

66. Preference to be given to certain persons to administer where deceased died intestate ........................................ 19

67. Notice of application for grant ...................................................................................................................................................... 19

68. Objections to application ................................................................................................................................................................. 20

69. Procedure after notice and objections ........................................................................................................................................ 20

70. Powers of courts .................................................................................................................................................................................. 20

71. Confirmation of grants ...................................................................................................................................................................... 20

72. Grants not to be confirmed in certain circumstances ........................................................................................................... 21

73. Duty of court to give notice to holder of grant to apply for confirmation ..................................................................... 21

74. Errors may be rectified by court ................................................................................................................................................... 21

75. Procedure where codicil discovered after grant ...................................................................................................................... 21

75A. Continuing trust arising ................................................................................................................................................................. 22

76. Revocation or annulment of grant ............................................................................................................................................... 22

77. Sealing of Commonwealth and foreign grants ........................................................................................................................ 22

78. Duplicate or copy of foreign grant to have same effect as original ................................................................................ 23

79. Property of deceased to vest in personal representative .................................................................................................... 23

80. When grant takes effect ................................................................................................................................................................... 23

81. Powers and duties of personal representatives to vest in survivor on death of one of them ................................. 23

82. Powers of personal representatives ............................................................................................................................................. 23

83. Duties of personal representatives .............................................................................................................................................. 24

84. Personal representatives to act as trustees in certain cases .............................................................................................. 25

85. Assent necessary to complete legatee's title ............................................................................................................................ 25

86. Debts to be paid before legacies ................................................................................................................................................. 25

87. Personal representatives not bound to pay legacies without indemnity ........................................................................ 25

88. Abatement and refunding of legacies ......................................................................................................................................... 25

89. [Repealed by Act No. 19 of 2015, s. 24.] ................................................................................................................................... 25

90. Investment of funds to provide for legacies and interest on legacies ............................................................................ 25

91. Transfer of assets from Kenya to personal representatives in country of domicil for distribution ......................... 25

92. Protection of persons acting on respresentation .................................................................................................................... 26

93. Validity of transfer not affected by revocation of representation ..................................................................................... 26

94. Neglect or misapplication of assets by personal representatives ..................................................................................... 26

95. Offences by personal representatives ......................................................................................................................................... 26

Part VIII – MISCELLANEOUS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27

96. Sane murderer not to share in victim's estate ......................................................................................................................... 27

97. Rules ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

98. Transitional ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 27

99. [Spent] ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

100. Amendments ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

101. Saving ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

FIRST SCHEDULE [s. 22] ................................................................................................................................................................................. 28

SECOND SCHEDULE [s. 23] ............................................................................................................................................................................ 39

THIRD SCHEDULE [s. 24] ................................................................................................................................................................................ 41

FOURTH SCHEDULE .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 42

FIFTH SCHEDULE [s. 54] ................................................................................................................................................................................. 43

SIXTH SCHEDULE [s. 88 & 91] .................................................................................................................................................................... 46

SEVENTH SCHEDULE [s. 90] .......................................................................................................................................................................... 48

EIGHTH SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 49

NINTH SCHEDULE [s. 100] ............................................................................................................................................................................. 49

Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

LAW OF SUCCESSION ACT

CAP. 160
Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. LXXIV—No. 55 on 17 November 1972

Assented to on 13 November 1972

Commenced on 1 July 1981 by Law of succession Commencement

[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1975 (Act No. 7 of 1975) on 27 June 1975]
[Amended by Law of Succession (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Act No. 8 of 1976) on 10 September 1976]
[Amended by Laws of Kenya (Rectification) (No.5) Order, 1976 (Legal Notice 256 of 1976) on 10 December 1976]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1977 (Act No. 16 of 1977) on 28 October 1977]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1978 (Act No. 13 of 1978) on 10 November 1978]
[Amended by Application of Part V of the Act, 1981 (Legal Notice 94 of 1981) on 26 June 1981]
[Amended by Statute Law (Repeals and Miscellaneous
Amendments) Act, 1981 (Act No. 10 of 1981) on 13 November 1981]
[Amended by Perpetuities and Accumulations Act (Cap. 161) on 8 June 1984]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(No. 2) Act, 1984 (Act No. 19 of 1984) on 28 December 1984]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1986 (Act No. 18 of 1986) on 30 December 1986]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act.(No.2), 1990 (Act No. 21 of 1990) on 18 January 1990]
[Amended by Magistrates' Courts Act (Cap. 10) on 2 January 2016]
[Amended by Companies and Insolvency Legislation (Consequential
Amendments) Act, 2015 (Act No. 19 of 2015) on 3 July 2017]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2018 (Act No. 18 of 2018) on 18 January 2019]
[Amended by Law of Succession (Amendment) Act (Act No. 11 of 2021) on 7 December 2021]
[Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]

An ACT of Parliament to amend, define and consolidate the law relating to intestate and testamentary
succession and the administration of estates of deceased persons; and for purposes connected therewith
and incidental thereto

1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Law of Succession Act.

2. Application of Act
(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or any other written law, the provisions of this
Act shall constitute the law of Kenya in respect of, and 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 and to the administration of estates of those persons.

(2) The estates of persons dying before the commencement of this Act are subject to the written laws
and customs applying at the date of death, but nevertheless the administration of their estates shall
commence or proceed so far as possible in accordance with this Act.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the provision of this Act shall not apply to testamentary or intestate
succession to the estate of any person who at the time of this death is a Muslim to the intent that in
lieu of such provisions the devolution of the estate of any such person shall be governed by Muslim
law.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), the provisions of Part VII relating to the
administration of estates shall where they are not inconsistent with those of Muslim law apply in
case of every Muslim dying before, on or after the 1st January, 1991.

[Act No. 16 of 1977, Sch., Act No. 13 of 1978, Sch., Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch.]

3. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

"active service" means service with the armed forces or merchant marine on a field of military
operations or at sea, or proceeding to or from such field or sea, or under orders to proceed to such
field or sea, or in being in some place for the purpose of proceeding to such field or sea;

"administrator" means a person to whom a grant of letters of administration has been made under
this Act;

"agricultural land" means land used for agricultural purposes which is not within a municipality or a
township or a market, but does not include land registered under the provisions of any written law;

"authorized investment", with reference to the investment of any fund, means an investment of
such type as is authorized for investment of that fund by any will applying thereto, or as is for the
time being authorized by any written law for the investment of trust funds;

"charitable purpose" includes the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, the advancement
of religion, and any other purpose of a public nature and capable of administration by a court of law
which benefits the community at large or the inhabitants or a particular class of inhabitants of a
particular locality;

"codicil" means a testamentary instrument made in relation to a will, explaining, altering or adding
to its dispositions or appointments, and duly made and executed as required by the provisions of
this Act for the making and execution of a will;

"competent witness" means a person of sound mind and full age;

"court" means a court having jurisdiction under this Act in the matter in question;

"demonstrative legacy" means a testamentary gift which is in its nature general but which manifests
an intention that the gift shall be primarily satisfied out of a specified fund or a specified part of the
property of the testator, but shall, upon failure of that fund or property, be met from the general
estate;

"estate" means the free property of a deceased person;

"executor" means a person to whom the execution of the last will of a deceased person is, by the
testator's appointment, confided;

"free property", in relation to a deceased person, means the property of which that person was
legally competent freely to dispose during his lifetime, and in respect of which his interest has not
been terminated by his death;

"full age" means having attained the age of eighteen years;

"general legacy" means a testamentary gift, whether specific or general, of property described in
general terms to be provided out of the general estate of the testator, whether or not also charged
on any specific part of his estate;

"general power of appointment" means an unfettered power of appointment to such object or

objects as the appointor may think fit;

"general residuary bequest" means a testamentary gift of all the property of the testator not
otherwise disposed of;

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

"house" means a family unit comprising a wife, whether alive or dead at the date of the death of the
husband and the children of that wife;

"income" includes rents and profits;

"independent witness" means a witness who is not a beneficiary under a will or the spouse of any
such beneficiary;

"limited residuary bequest" means a testamentary gift which, but for some specific limitation
therein expressed or implied, would constitute a general residuary bequest;

"minor" means any person who is not of full age;

"Muslim" means any person who professes the religion of Islam and accepts the unity of God and
Muhammed as his prophet;

"Muslim law" means the law applicable to a person who is a Muslim at the time of his death;

"net estate" means the estate of a deceased person after payment of reasonable funeral expenses,
debts and liabilities, expenses of obtaining probate or letters of administration, other reasonable
expenses of administration and estate duty, if any;

"net intestate estate" means the estate of a deceased person in respect of which he has died
intestate after payment of the expenses, debts, liabilities and estate duty set out under the
definition of "net estate" so far as the expenses, debts, liabilities and estate duty are chargeable
against that estate;

"particular residual bequest" means a testamentary gift of all of a particular property not otherwise
disposed of;

"pecuniary legacy" includes an annuity, a general legacy, a demonstrative legacy so far as it is not
discharged out of the specified fund or property, and any other general direction by the testator for
the payment of money, including all death duties free from which any gift is made to take effect;

"personal and household effects" means clothing and articles of personal use and adornment,
furniture, appliances, pictures, ornaments, food, drink, utensils and all other articles of household
use or decoration normally to be associated with a matrimonial home, but does not include any
motor vehicle or any other thing connected with the business or profession of the deceased;

"personal representative" means the executor or administrator, as the case may be, of a deceased
person;

"portion" means provision by a parent or person in loco parentis to establish a child in life;

"power of appointment" means power vested in some person to determine the disposition of
property of which that person is not the owner;

"probate" means the certificate of a court of competent jurisdiction, that a will, of which a
certified copy is attached in the case of a written will, has been proved a valid will with a grant of
representation to the executor in respect of the estate;

"purchaser" means a purchaser for money or money's worth;

"representation" means the probate of a will or the grant of letters of administration;

"special legacy" means a testamentary gift of a particular part of the property of the testator, which
identifies that part by a sufficient description, whether in specific or in general terms, and manifests
an intention that that part shall be enjoyed or taken in the state and condition indicated by that
description;

"special power of appointment" means power of appointment to such object or objects within a
special description or class as the appointor may think fit;

"spouse" means a husband or a wife or wives recognised under the Marriage Act (Cap. 150);

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

"trust corporation" means an incorporated banking or insurance or guarantee or trust company

having a subscribed capital of not less than five hundred thousand shillings, or any body corporate
which has a subscribed capital of not less than five hundred thousand shillings and which is for the
time being empowered (by or under any written law, its charter, memorandum of association, deed
of settlement or other instrument constituting it or defining its powers), to undertake trusts, but
for so long a time only as that body corporate shall not, by any prospectus, circular, advertisement
or other document issued by it or on its behalf, state or hold out that any liability attaches to the
Public Trustee or to the Consolidated Fund in respect of any act or omission of that body corporate
when acting as an executor or administrator:

Provided that a body corporate which would be a trust corporation but for the fact that its
subscribed capital is less than five hundred thousand shillings may act as executor or administrator
in any case with the leave of the court on giving such security as the court may determine, and
thereupon for the purpose of so acting as executor or administrator that corporation shall have all
the rights and privileges conferred on a trust corporation by this Act;

"wife" includes a wife who is separated from her husband and the terms "husband" and "spouse",
"widow" and "widower" shall have a corresponding meaning;

"will" means the legal declaration by a person of his wishes or intentions regarding the disposition
of his property after his death, duly made and executed according to the provisions of Part II, and
includes a codicil.

(2) References in this Act to "child"or "children" shall include a child conceived but not yet born (as
long as that child is subsequently born alive) and, in relation to a female person, any child born to
her out of wedlock, and, in relation to a male person, any child whom he has expressly recognized
or in fact accepted as a child of his own or for whom he has voluntarily assumed permanent
responsibility.

(3) A child born to a female person out of wedlock, and a child as defined by subsection (2) as the child
of a male person, shall have relationship to other persons through her or him as though the child
had been born to her or him in wedlock.

(4) Where the date of birth of any person is unknown or cannot be ascertained, that person shall be
treated as being of full age for the purposes of this Act if he has apparently attained the age of
eighteen years, and shall not otherwise be so treated.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, a woman married under a system of
law which permits polygamy is, where her husband has contracted a previous or subsequent
monogamous marriage to another woman, nevertheless a wife for the purposes of this Act, and in
particular sections 29 and 40 thereof, and her children are accordingly children within the meaning
of this Act.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, Sch., Act No. 10 of 1981, Sch., Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch., Act No. 11 of 2021, s. 2.]

4. Law applicable to succession

(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or by any other written law—

(a) succession to immovable property in Kenya of a deceased person shall be regulated by the
law of Kenya, whatever the domicile of that person at the time of his death;

(b) succession to the movable property of a deceased person shall be regulated by the law of the
country of the domicile of that person at the time of his death.

(2) A person who immediately before his death was ordinarily resident in Kenya shall, in the absence of
proof of domicile elsewhere, be presumed to have been domiciled in Kenya at the date of death.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

Part II – WILLS

Capacity

5. Persons capable of making wills and freedom of testation

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part and Part III, every person who is of sound mind and not a
minor may dispose of all or any of his free property by will, and may thereby make any disposition
by reference to any secular or religious law that he chooses.

(2) A female person, whether married or unmarried, has the same capacity to make a will as does a
male person.

(3) Any person making or purporting to make a will shall be deemed to be of sound mind for the
purpose of this section unless he is, at the time of executing the will, in such a state of mind,
whether arising from mental or physical illness, drunkenness, or from any other cause, as not to
know what he is doing.

(4) The burden of proof that a testator was, at the time he made any will, not of sound mind, shall be
upon the person who so alleges.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 3.]

6. Appointment by will of executor

A person may, by will, appoint an executor or executors.

7. Wills caused by fraud, coercion, importunity or mistake

A will or any part of a will, the making of which has been caused by fraud or coercion, or by such
importunity as takes away the free agency of the testator, or has been induced by mistake, is void.

Formalities

8. Form of wills
A will may be made either orally or in writing.

9. Oral wills
(1) No oral will shall be valid unless—

(a) it is made before two or more competent witnesses; and

(b) the testator dies within a period of three months from the date of making the will:

Provided that an oral will made by a member of the armed forces or merchant marine during a
period of active service shall be valid if the testator dies during the same period of active service
notwithstanding the fact that he died more than three months after the date of making the will.

(2) No oral will shall be valid if, and so far as, it is contrary to any written will which the testator has
made, whether before or after the date of the oral will, and which has not been revoked as provided
by sections 18 and 19.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

10. Proof of oral wills

If there is any conflict in evidence of witnesses as to what was said by the deceased in making an oral will,
the oral will shall not be valid except so far as its contents are proved by a competent independent witness.

[Act No. 13 of 1978, Sch.]

11. Written wills

No written will shall be valid unless—

(a) the testator has signed or affixed his mark to the will, or it has been signed by some other person in
the presence and by the direction of the testator;

(b) the signature or mark of the testator, or the signature of the person signing for him, is so placed
that it shall appear that it was intended thereby to give effect to the writing as a will;

(c) the will is attested by two or more competent witnesses, each of whom must have seen the testator
sign or affix his mark to the will, or have seen some other person sign the will, in the presence and
by the direction of the testator, or have received from the testator a personal acknowledgement of
his signature or mark, or of the signature of that other person; and each of the witnesses must sign
the will in the presence of the testator, but it shall not be necessary that more than one witness be
present at the same time, and no particular form of attestation shall be necessary.

12. Incorporation of papers by reference

If a testator, in a will or codicil, refers to another document then actually written, and expressing any part
of his intentions, that document, where it is clearly identified as the document to which the will refers,
shall be considered as forming part of the will or codicil in which it is referred to.

13. Effect of gift to attesting witness

(1) A will shall not be considered as insufficiently attested by reason of any benefit thereby given,
either by way of bequest or by way of appointment to any person attesting it, or to his or her
spouse.

(2) A bequest to an attesting witness (including any direction as to payment of costs or charges) or a
bequest to his or her spouse shall be void, unless the will is also attested by at least two additional
competent and independent witnesses, in which case the bequest shall be valid.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 4.]

14. Witness not disqualified by being executor

No person, by reason of his being an executor of a will, shall be disqualified as a witness to prove the
execution of the will or to prove the validity or invalidity thereof.

15. Existing wills

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Part, any written will executed before the commencement of this
Act shall, whether the testator dies before or after the commencement of this Act, be treated as properly
executed if it was executed according to the requirements of the law in force at the date of execution.

16. Formal validity of other wills

Nothwithstanding the provisions of this Part, every will, whether of movable or immovable property, and
whether executed before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be treated as properly executed, if

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

its execution conformed, either at the time of execution or at the time of the testator's death, to the law in
force—

(a) in the state where it was executed; or

(b) in the state where the property is situated; or

(c) in the state where, at the time of its execution or the testator's death, he was domiciled; or

(d) in a state of which the testator was a national either at the time of its execution or on his death.

Revocation, Alteration and Revival

17. Will may be revoked or altered

A will may be revoked or altered by the maker of it at any time when he is competent to dispose of his free
property by will.

18. Revocation of will

(1) Save as provided by section 19, no will or codicil, or any part thereof, shall be revoked otherwise
than by another will or codicil declaring an intention to revoke it, or by the burning, tearing or
otherwise destroying of the will with the intention of revoking it by the testator, or by some other
person at his direction.

(2) A written will shall not be revoked by an oral will.

19. Revocation of will by testator's marriage

A will shall be revoked by the marriage of the maker; but where a will is expressed to be made
in contemplation of marriage with a specified person, it shall not be revoked by the marriage so
contemplated.

20. Effect of obliteration, interlineation or alteration in will

(1) No obliteration, interlineation or other alteration made in a written will after the execution thereof
shall have any effect unless the alteration is signed and attested as a written will is required to be
under section 11:

Provided that a will as so altered shall be deemed to be duly executed if the signature of the testator
and the subscription of the witnesses is made in the margin or on some other part of the will
opposite or near to the alteration, or is referred to in a memorandum written at the end or some
other part of the will and so signed and attested.

(2) Where a typewritten or printed will purports to have been executed by the filling in of any blank
spaces, there shall be a presumption that the will has been duly executed.

21. Revival of will

(1) No will which has been in any manner wholly revoked shall be revived otherwise than by the re-
execution thereof.

(2) Where only part of a will has been revoked, that part shall not be revived otherwise than by the re-
execution thereof or by a subsequent will or codicil showing an intention to revive it.

Construction

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

22. Construction of wills

Wills shall be construed in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act.

Failure of Dispositions

23. Failure of testamentary dispositions

Testamentary gifts and dispositions shall fail by way of lapse or ademption in the circumstances and
manner and to the extent provided by the Second Schedule.

Election

24. Election
Beneficiaries under testamentary gifts or dispositions shall be put to election in the circumstances and
manner and to the extent provided by the Third Schedule.

Perpetuities, Remoteness and Accumulations

25. [Repealed by Act No. 6 of 1984, Sch.]

Part III – PROVISION FOR DEPENDANTS

26. Provision for dependants not adequately provided for by will or on intestacy
Where a person dies after the commencement of this Act, and so far as succession to his property is
governed by the provisions of this Act, then on the application by or on behalf of a dependant, the court
may, if it is of the opinion that the disposition of the deceased's estate effected by his will, or by gift in
contemplation of death, or the law relating to intestacy, or the combination of the will, gift and law, is not
such as to make reasonable provision for that dependant, order that such reasonable provision as the court
thinks fit shall be made for that dependant out of the deceased's net estate.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 5.]

27. Discretion of court in making order

In making provision for a dependant the court shall have complete discretion to order a specific share
of the estate to be given to the dependant, or to make such other provision for him by way of periodical
payments or a lump sum, and to impose such conditions, as it thinks fit.

28. Circumstances to be taken into account by court in making order

In considering whether any order should be made under this Part, and if so what order, the court shall
have regard to—

(a) the nature and amount of the deceased's property;

(b) any past, present or future capital or income from any source of the dependant;

(c) the existing and future means and needs of the dependant;

(d) whether the deceased had made any advancement or other gift to the dependant during his
lifetime;

(e) the conduct of the dependant in relation to the deceased;

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(f) the situation and circumstances of the deceased's other dependants and the beneficiaries under any
will;

(g) the general circumstances of the case, including, so far as can be ascertained, the testator's reasons
for not making provision for the dependant.

[L.N. 256/1976, Sch.]

29. Meaning of dependant

For the purposes of this Part, "dependant" means—

(a) the wife or wives, or former wife or wives, and the children of the deceased whether or not
maintained by the deceased immediately prior to his death;

(b) such of the deceased's parents, step-parents, grandparents, grandchildren, step-children, children
whom the deceased had taken into his family as his own, brothers and sisters, and half-brothers and
half-sisters, as were being maintained by the deceased immediately prior to his death; and

(c) where the deceased was a woman, her husband if he was being maintained by her immediately prior
to the date of her death.

30. Limitation of time

No application under this Part shall be brought after a grant of representation in respect of the estate to
which the application refers has been confirmed as provided by section 71.

Part IV – GIFTS IN CONTEMPLATION OF DEATH

31. Characteristics
A gift made in contemplation of death shall be valid, notwithstanding that there has been no complete
transfer of legal title, if—

(a) the person making the gift is at the time contemplating the possibility of death, whether or not
expecting death, as the result of a present illness or present or imminent danger; and

(b) a person gives movable property (which includes any debt secured upon movable or immovable
property) which he could otherwise dispose of by will; and

(c) there is delivery to the intended beneficiary of possession or the means of possession of the
property or of the documents or other evidence of title thereto; and

(d) a person makes a gift in such circumstances as to show that he intended it to revert to him should
he survive that illness or danger; and

(e) the person making that gift dies from any cause without having survived that illness or danger; and

(f) the intended beneficiary survives the person who made the gift to him:

Provided that—

(i) no gift made in contemplation of death shall be valid if the death is caused by suicide;

(ii) the person making the gift may, at any time before his death, lawfully request its return.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

Part V – INTESTACY

32. Excluded property

The provisions of this Part shall not apply to—

(a) agricultural land and crops thereon; or

(b) livestock,

in the various Districts set out hereunder:

West Pokot

Wajir

Turkana

Garissa

Marsabit

Tana River

Samburu

Lamu

Isiolo

Kajiado

Mandera

Narok

[L.N. 94/1981, Sch.]

33. Law applicable to excluded property

The law applicable to the distribution on intestacy of the categories of property specified in section 32
shall be the law or custom applicable to the deceased's community or tribe, as the case may be.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 6.]

34. Meaning of intestacy

A person is deemed to die intestate in respect of all his free property of which he has not made a will
which is capable of taking effect.

35. Where intestate has left one surviving spouse and child or children
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 40, where an intestate has left one surviving spouse and a child
or children, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to—

(a) the personal and household effects of the deceased absolutely; and

(b) a life interest in the whole residue of the net intestate estate:

Provided that, if the surviving spouse is a widow, that interest shall determine upon her re-marriage
to any person.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(2) A surviving spouse shall, during the continuation of the life interest provided by subsection (1),
have a power of appointment of all or any part of the capital of the net intestate estate by way of
gift taking immediate effect among the surviving child or children, but that power shall not be
exercised by will nor in such manner as to take effect at any future date.

(3) Where any child considers that the power of appointment under subsection (2) has been
unreasonably exercised or withheld, he or, if a minor, his representative may apply to the court for
the appointment of his share, with or without variation of any appointment already made.

(4) Where an application is made under subsection (3), the court shall have power to award the
applicant a share of the capital of the net intestate estate with or without variation of any
appointment already made, and in determining whether an order shall be made, and if so what
order, shall have regard to—

(a) the nature and amount of the deceased's property;

(b) any past, present or future capital or income from any source of the applicant and of the
surviving spouse;

(c) the existing and future means and needs of the applicant and the surviving spouse;

(d) whether the deceased had made any advancement or other gift to the applicant during his
lifetime or by will;

(e) the conduct of the applicant in relation to the deceased and to the surviving spouse;

(f) the situation and circumstances of any other person who has any vested or contingent
interest in the net intestate estate of the deceased or as a beneficiary under his will (if any);
and

(g) the general circumstances of the case including the surviving spouse's reasons for
withholding or exercising the power in the manner in which he or she did, and any other
application made under this section.

(5) Subject to the provisions of sections 41 and 42 and subject to any appointment or award made
under this section, the whole residue of the net intestate estate shall on the death, or, in the case
of a widow, re-marriage, of the surviving spouse, devolve upon the surviving child, if there be only
one, or be equally divided among the surviving children.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 7, Act No. 16 of 1977, Sch.]

36. Where intestate has left one surviving spouse but no child or children
(1) Where the intestate has left one surviving spouse but no child or children, the surviving spouse
shall be entitled out of the net intestate estate to—

(a) the personal and household effects of the deceased absolutely; and

(b) the first ten thousand shillings out of the residue of the net intestate estate, or twenty per
centum thereof, whichever is the greater; and

(c) a life interest in the whole of the remainder:

Provided that if the surviving spouse is a widow, such life interest shall be determined upon her re-
marriage to any person.

(2) The Cabinet Secretary may, by order in the Gazette, vary the amount specified in paragraph (b) of
subsection (1).

(3) Upon the determination of a life interest created under subsection (1), the property subject to that
interest shall devolve in the order of priority set out in section 39.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 8.]

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

37. Powers of spouse during life interest

A surviving spouse entitled to a life interest under the provisions of section 35 or 36, with the consent of
all co-trustees and all children of full age, or with the consent of the court, may, during the period of the
life interest, sell any of the property subject to that interest if it is necessary for his own maintenance:

Provided that, in the case of immovable property, the exercise of that power shall always be subject to the
consent of the court.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 9.]

38. Where intestate has left a surviving child or children but no spouse
Where an intestate has left a surviving child or children but no spouse, the net intestate estate shall,
subject to the provisions of sections 41 and 42, devolve upon the surviving child, if there be only one, or
shall be equally divided among the surviving children.

39. Where intestate has left no surviving spouse or children

(1) Where an intestate has left no surviving spouse or children, the net intestate estate shall devolve
upon the kindred of the intestate in the following order of priority—

(a) father; or if dead

(b) mother; or if dead

(c) brothers and sisters, and any child or children of deceased brothers and sisters, in equal
shares; or if none

(d) half-brothers and half-sisters and any child or children of deceased half-brothers and half-
sisters, in equal shares; or if none

(e) the relatives who are in the nearest degree of consanguinity up to and including the sixth
degree, in equal shares.

(2) Failing survival by any of the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1), the net
intestate estate shall devolve upon the State, and be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

40. Where intestate was polygamous

(1) Where an intestate has married more than once under any system of law permitting polygamy, his
personal and household effects and the residue of the net intestate estate shall, in the first instance,
be divided among the houses according to the number of children in each house, but also adding
any wife surviving him as an additional unit to the number of children.

(2) The distribution of the personal and household effects and the residue of the net intestate estate
within each house shall then be in accordance with the rules set out in sections 35 to 38.

41. Property devolving upon child to be held in trust

Where reference is made in this Act to the "net intestate estate", or the residue thereof, devolving upon
a child or children, the property comprised therein shall be held in trust, in equal shares in the case of
more than one child, for all or any of the children of the intestate who attain the age of eighteen years or
who, being female, marry under that age, and for all or any of the issue of any child of the intestate who
predecease him and who attain that age or so marry, in which case the issue shall take through degrees, in
equal shares, the share which their parent would have taken had he not predeceased the intestate.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

42. Previous benefits to be brought into account

Where—

(a) an intestate has, during his lifetime or by will, paid, given or settled any property to or for the
benefit of a child, grandchild or house; or

(b) property has been appointed or awarded to any child or grandchild under the provisions of section
26 or section 35,

that property shall be taken into account in determining the share of the net intestate estate finally
accruing to the child, grandchild or house.

Part VI – SURVIVORSHIP

43. Presumption of survivorship

Where two or more persons have died in circumstances rendering it uncertain which of them survived
the other or others, the deaths shall, for all purposes of this Act, be presumed to have occurred in order of
seniority, and accordingly the younger shall be deemed to have survived the elder:

Provided that, in the case of spouses who died in those circumstances, the spouses shall be presumed to
have died simultaneously.

Part VII – ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES

44. Application of Part

(1) The provisions of this Part shall not, in cases of intestacy, apply to those types of property
mentioned in section 32.

(2) The Cabinet Secretary may, after consultation with the Chief Justice, by order in the Gazette,
suspend in any area referred to in the order all or any of the sections 45, 46, 48 or 49.

(3) Where the operation of sections 48 and 49 is suspended in any area, the High Court may make a
grant of representation in respect of the estate of a deceased person whose last known place of
residence was in that area, whether the value of the estate exceeds or does not exceed one hundred
thousand shillings.

(4) In this section "area" means a province, district or other part of Kenya.

[Act No. 7 of 1975, Sch.]

Protection

45. No intermeddling with property of deceased person

(1) Except so far as expressly authorized by this Act, or by any other written law, or by a grant of
representation under this Act, no person shall, for any purpose, take possession or dispose of, or
otherwise intermeddle with, any free property of a deceased person.

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall-

(a) be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings or to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment; and

(b) be answerable to the rightful executor or administrator, to the extent of the assets with
which he has intermeddled after deducting any payments made in the due course of
administration.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

46. Duties of officers in relation to protection, etc., of deceased's property

(1) Whenever it becomes known to any police officer or administrative officer that any person has died,
he shall, unless aware that a report has already been made, forthwith report the fact of the death
to the sub-chief of the sub-location or to the chief or administrative officer of the area where the
deceased had his last known place of residence.

(2) Any person to whom a report is made under subsection (1) shall—

(a) at the request of any person who appears to have a legitimate interest in the estate of the
deceased; or

(b) if no application for representation in respect of the estate has been made within one month
after the date of the death of the deceased,

forthwith proceed to the last known place of residence of the deceased, and take all necessary steps
for the protection of his free property found there, for ascertainment of his other free properties (if
any), for ascertainment of all persons appearing to have any legitimate interest in succession to or
administration of his estate, and for the guidance of prospective executors or administrators as to
formalities and duties:

Provided that if the last known place of residence of the deceased is situated in a municipality, or
when the deceased dies outside Kenya wherever his property is situated, the person to whom a
report is made under subsection (1) shall not take the action which he is required to take under this
subsection unless and until he has first reported the death to the Public Trustee, who may if he so
wishes himself take the action instead of that person;

(3) If any person to whom a report is made under subsection (1) finds that there is any free property
of the deceased, or that the person appearing to have the greatest legitimate interest in succession
to or administration of his estate are resident in any other sub-location or area, he shall forthwith
report those facts to the sub-chief, chief or administrative officer of that other sub-location or
area, who shall thereupon take, in respect of the property or persons, the steps are prescribed by
subsection (2).

(4) Any assistant chief, chief or administrative officer becoming aware that there is in his sub-location
or area any free property of a deceased person, or that there are resident in his sub-location or area
any persons appearing to have the greatest legitimate interest in succession to or administration of
the estate of a deceased person, but that no grant of representation in respect of that estate has yet
been made, shall, at the request of any person who appears to have any legitimate interest in that
estate, and without waiting for a report under this section, forthwith take, in respect of the property
or persons, the steps prescribed by subsection (2).

(5) A person who is required to take the steps referred to in subsection (2)—

(a) shall forthwith report to the Public Trustee the death of the person concerned; and

(b) notify the Public Trustee of the steps taken by him pursuant to that subsection.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 10.]

Jurisdiction

47. Jurisdiction of High Court

The High Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any application and determine any dispute under this
Act and to pronounce such decrees and make such orders therein as may be expedient:

Provided that the High Court may for the purpose of this section be represented by Resident Magistrates
appointed by the Chief Justice.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 10A, Act No. 16 of 1977, Sch.]

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

48. Jurisdiction of Magistrates

(1) Notwithstanding any other written law which limits jurisdiction, but subject to the provisions
of section 49, a magistrate shall have jurisdiction to entertain any application and to determine
any dispute under this Act and pronounce such decrees and make such orders therein as may be
expedient in respect of any estate the gross value of which does not exceed the pecuniary limit
prescribed under section 7 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Cap 10).

(2) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the Kadhis' courts shall continue to have
and exercise jurisdiction in relation to the estate of a deceased Muslim for the determination of
questions relating to inheritance in accordance with Muslim law and of any other question arising
under this Act in relation to such estates.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 10B, Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch., Act No. 26 of 2015, s. 23.]

49. Territorial jurisdiction of Magistrates

The Magistrate's Court within whose area a deceased person had his last known place of residence shall, if
the gross value of the estate of the deceased does not exceed the pecuniary limits set out in section 7(1) of
the Magistrates' Courts Act (Cap 10), have in respect of that estate the jurisdiction conferred by section 48.

Provided that—

(i) the magistrate may, with the consent or by the direction of the High Court, transfer the
administration of an estate to any other Magistrate's court where it appears that the greater part of
the estate is situated within the area of that other magistrate or that there is other good reason for
the transfer;

(ii) if the deceased had his last known place of residence outside Kenya, the High Court shall determine
which magistrate shall have jurisdiction under this section;

(iii) every Magistrate's Court shall have jurisdiction, in cases of apparent urgency, to make a temporary
grant of representation limited to collection of assets situated within his area and payments of
debts, regardless of the last known place of residence of the deceased.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 10C, Act No. 26 of 2015, s. 24.]

49A. Power to clear Court

(1) In any proceedings for an application or dispute relating to the administration of a deceased
person's estate, the Court hearing the application or dispute may on its own motion or upon an
application by any of the parties, direct that any persons, not being members of the Court or parties
to the case or their advocates, be excluded from the Court.

(2) The Court may prohibit the publication of the proceedings on the matter in respect of which a
direction is given under subsection (1).

[Act No. 18 of 2018, Sch.]

50. Appeals to High Court

(1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court in respect of any order or decree made by a Resident
Magistrate in respect of any estate and the decision of the High Court thereon shall be final.

(2) An appeal shall lie to the High Court in respect of any order or decree made by a Kadhi's Court in
respect of the estate of a deceased Muslim and, with the prior leave thereof in respect of any point
of Muslim law, to the Court of Appeal.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 10D, Act No. 13 of 1978, Sch., Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch.]

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

50A. Power to make rules

The Chief Justice may in consultation with the Chief Kadhi, make rules of court for the better carrying into
effect in relation to the estates deceased Muslims of the provisions of sections 47, 48, 49 and 50 and, in
particular for regulating the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by this Act.

[Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch.]

Application for Grant

51. Application for grant

(1) Every application for a grant of representation shall be made in such form as may be prescribed,
signed by the applicant and witnessed in the prescribed manner.

(2) An application shall include information as to—

(a) the full names of the deceased;

(b) the date and place of his death;

(c) his last known place of residence;

(d) the relationship (if any) of the applicant to the deceased;

(e) whether or not the deceased left a valid will;

(f) the present addresses of any executors appointed by any such valid will;

(g) in cases of total or partial intestacy, the names and addresses of all surviving spouses,
children, parents, brothers and sisters of the deceased, and of the children of any child of his
or hers then deceased;

(h) a full inventory of all the assets and liabilities of the deceased; and

(i) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(3) Where it is alleged in an application that the deceased left a valid will—

(a) if it was written, the original will shall be annexed to the application, or if it is alleged to
have been lost, or destroyed otherwise than by way of revocation, or if for any other reason
the original cannot be produced, then either—

(i) an authenticated copy thereof shall be so annexed; or

(ii) the names and addresses of all persons alleged to be able to prove its contents shall be
stated in the application;

(b) if it was oral, the names and addresses of all alleged witnesses shall be stated in the
application.

(4) No omission of any information from an application shall affect the power of the court to entertain
the application.

52. Wilful and reckless statements in application for grant

Any person who, in an application for representation, wilfully or recklessly makes a statement which is
false in any material particular shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand
shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Forms of Grant

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

53. Forms of grant

A court may—

(a) where a deceased person is proved (whether by production of a will or an authenticated copy
thereof or by oral evidence of its contents) to have left a valid will, grant, in respect of all property
to which such will applies, either—

(i) probate of the will to one or more of the executors named therein; or

(ii) if there is no proving executor, letters of administration with the will annexed; and

(b) if and so far as there may be intestacy, etters of administration in respect of the intestate estate.

[Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch.]

54. Limited grants

A court may, according to the circumstances of each case, limit any grant of representation which it has
jurisdiction to make, in any of the forms described in the Fifth Schedule to this Act.

55. No distribution of capital before confirmation of grant

(1) No grant of representation, whether or not limited in its terms, shall confer power to distribute any
capital assets constituting a net estate, or to make any division of property, unless and until the
grant has been confirmed as provided by section 71.

(2) The restriction on distribution under subsection (1) does not apply to the distribution or
application before the grant of representation is confirmed of any income arising from the estate
and received after the date of death whether the income arises in respect of a period wholly or
partly before or after the date of death.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 11, Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

Persons Entitled to a Grant

56. No grant to certain persons

(1) No grant of representation shall be made—

(a) to any person who is a minor, or of unsound mind, or bankrupt; or

(b) to more than four persons in respect of the same property.

(2) No grant of letters of administration, with or without the will annexed, shall be made to a body
corporate other than the Public Trustee or a trust corporation.

57. Grant to body corporate

No grant of representation shall be made to a syndic or nominee on behalf of a body corporate:

Provided that, where a body corporate applies for a grant of probate or (in the case of a trust corporation)
letters of administration, the application may be signed, and any necessary affidavits may be sworn, by an
officer authorized in that behalf by the body corporate or the directors or governing body thereof.

58. Number of administrators where there is a continuing trust

(1) Where a continuing trust arises—

(a) no grant of letters of administration in respect of an intestate estate shall be made to one
person alone except where that person is the Public Trustee or a Trust Corporation.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(b) no grant of letters of administration with the will annexed shall be made to one person alone
except where-

(i) that person is the Public Trustee or a Trust Corporation; or

(ii) in the will the testator has appointed one or more trustees for the continuing trust
who are willing and able to act.

(2) Where an application for a grant of letters of administration in respect of an intestate estate is
made by one person alone and a continuing trust arises the court shall, subject to section 66,
appoint as administrators the applicant and not less than one or more than three persons as
proposed by the applicant which failing as chosen by the court of its own motion.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 12, Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

59. Renunciation of executorship

Any person who has been appointed by a will as an executor thereof may, either by oral declaration before
the court or by writing under his hand, renounce executorship, and shall thereafter be finally precluded
from applying for grant of probate of that will.

60. Probate where there are several executors

When several executors are appointed, probate may be granted to them all simultaneously, or at different
times.

61. Discovery of codicil after grant of probate

(1) If a codicil is discovered after the grant of probate, a separate probate of that codicil may be granted
to the executor, if it in no way repeals the appointment of executors made by the will.

(2) If different executors are appointed by the codicil, the probate of the will shall be revoked, and a
new probate granted of the will and the codicil together.

62. No grant of administration until citation issued to executor

When a person who has been appointed by a will as an executor thereof has not renounced the
executorship, letters of administration shall not be granted to any other person until a citation has been
issued, calling upon the executor to renounce his executorship or apply for a grant of probate of the will:

Provided that—

(i) when one or more of several executors have proved a will, the court may, on the death of the
survivor of those who have proved, grant letters of administration without citing those who have
not proved; and

(ii) there may be such limited grants of letters of administration in accordance with the provisions
of section 54 of this Act as may, in the opinion of the court, be necessitated by any special
circumstances.

63. Grant of administration to universal or residuary legatee

When a deceased has made a will, but—

(a) he has not appointed an executor; or

(b) the only executors appointed are legally incapable of acting, or have renounced their executorship,
or have died before the testator or before receiving a grant of probate of the will, or have failed
within the time limited by a citation to apply for probate thereof; or

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(c) all proving executors have died before completing administration of all the property to which the
will applies,

a universal or residuary legatee may be admitted to prove the will, and letters of administration with the
will annexed may be granted to him of the whole estate, or of so much thereof as may be unadministered.

64. Right to administration of representative of deceased residuary legatee

When a residuary legatee who has a beneficial interest survives the testator, but dies before the estate
has been fully administered, his representative shall have the same right to administration with the will
annexed as the residuary legatee.

65. Grant of administration where no executor nor residuary legatee nor representative of
legatee
When there is no executor, and no residuary legatee or representative of the residuary legatee, or if every
such person declines or is incapable of acting, or cannot be found, the person or persons who would be
entitled to the administration of the estate of the deceased if he had died intestate, or the Public Trustee,
or any other legatee having a beneficial interest, or a creditor, may be admitted to prove the will, and
letters of administration may be granted to him or them accordingly.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 13.]

66. Preference to be given to certain persons to administer where deceased died intestate
When a deceased has died intestate, the court shall, save as otherwise expressly provided, have a final
discretion as to the person or persons to whom a grant of letters of administration shall, in the best
interests of all concerned, be made, but shall, without prejudice to that discretion, accept as a general
guide the following order of preference—

(a) surviving spouse or spouses, with or without association of other beneficiaries;

(b) other beneficiaries entitled on intestacy, with priority according to their respective beneficial
interests as provided by Part V;

(c) the Public Trustee; and

(d) creditors:

Provided that, where there is partial intestacy, letters of administration in respect of the intestate estate
shall be granted to any executor or executors who prove the will.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 14.]

Procedure on Grants

67. Notice of application for grant

(1) No grant of representation, other than a limited grant for collection and preservation of assets,
shall be made until there has been published notice of the application for such grant, inviting
objections thereto to be made known to the court within a specified period of not less than thirty
days from the date of publication, and the period so specified has expired.

(2) A notice under subsection(1) shall be exhibited conspicuously in the court-house, and also
published in such other manner as the court directs.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

68. Objections to application

(1) Notice of any objection to an application for a grant of representation shall be lodged with the
court, in such form as may be prescribed, within the period specified by such notice as aforesaid, or
such longer period as the court may allow.

(2) Where notice of objection has been lodged under subsection (1), the court shall give notice to the
objector to file an answer to the application and a cross-application within a specified period.

69. Procedure after notice and objections

(1) Where a notice of objection has been lodged under subsection (1) of section 68, but no answer or
no cross-application has been filed as required under subsection (2) of that section, a grant may be
made in accordance with the original application.

(2) Where an answer and a cross-application have been filed under subsection (2) of section 68, the
court shall proceed to determine the dispute.

[L.N. 256/1976, Sch., Act No.16 of 1977, Sch.]

70. Powers of courts

Whether or not there is a dispute as to the grant, every court shall have power, before making a grant of
representation—

(a) examine any applicant on oath or affirmation; or

(b) call for further evidence as to the due execution or contents of the will or some other will, the
making of an oral will, the rights of dependants and of persons claiming interests on intestacy, or
any other matter which appears to require further investigation before a grant is made; or

(c) issue a special citation to any person appearing to have reason to object to the application.

Confirmation of Grants

71. Confirmation of grants

(1) After the expiration of a period of six months, or such shorter period as the court may direct under
subsection (3), from the date of any grant of representation, the holder thereof shall apply to the
court for confirmation of the grant in order to empower the distribution of any capital assets.

(2) Subject to subsection (2A), the court to which application is made, or to which any dispute in
respect thereof is referred, may-

(a) if it is satisfied that the grant was rightly made to the applicant, and that he is administering,
and will administer, the estate according to law, confirm the grant; or

(b) if it is not so satisfied, issue to some other person or persons, in accordance with the
provisions of sections 56 to 66 inclusive, a confirmed grant of letters of administration in
respect of the estate, or so much thereof as may be unadministered; or

(c) order the applicant to deliver or transfer to the holder of a confirmed grant from any other
court all assets of the estate then in his hands or under his control; or

(d) postpone confirmation of the grant for such period or periods, pending issue of further
citations or otherwise, as may seem necessary in all the circumstances of the case:

Provided that, in cases of intestacy, the grant of letters of administration shall not be confirmed
until the court is satisfied as to the respective identities and shares of all persons beneficially
entitled; and when confirmed the grant shall specify all such persons and their respective shares.

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(2A) Where a continuing trust arises and there is only one surviving administrator, if the court
confirms the grant, it shall, subject to section 66, appoint as administrators jointly with the
surviving administrator not less than one or more than three persons as proposed by the surviving
administrator which failing as chosen by the court of its own motion.

(3) The court may, on the application of the holder of a grant of representation, direct that such grant
be confirmed before the expiration of six months from the date of the grant if it is satisfied-

(a) that there is no dependant, as defined by section 29, of the deceased or that the only
dependants are of full age and consent to the application;

(b) that it would be expedient in all the circumstances of the case so to direct.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and sections 72 and 73, where an applicant files,
at the same time as the petition, summons for the immediate issue of a confirmed grant of
representation the court may, if it is satisfied that-

(a) there is no dependant, as defined by section 29, of the deceased other than the petitioner;

(b) no estate duty is payable in respect of the estate; and

(c) it is just and equitable in all circumstances of the case,

immediately issue a confirmed grant of representation.

[Act No. 19 of 1984, Sch., Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

72. Grants not to be confirmed in certain circumstances

No grant of representation shall be confirmed until the court-

(a) is satisfied that no application under Part III of this Act is pending; and

(b) has received a certificate from the Estate Duty Commissioner that he is satisfied that all estate duty
payable in respect of the estate concerned has been or will be paid, or that no estate duty is payable
in respect thereof; or

(c) is itself satisfied that no estate duty is payable in respect of the estate concerned.

73. Duty of court to give notice to holder of grant to apply for confirmation
The court shall, within one year from the date of any grant of representation, give notice to the holder of
the grant to apply for confirmation thereof.

Alteration and Revocation of Grants

74. Errors may be rectified by court

Errors in names and descriptions, or in setting out 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.

75. Procedure where codicil discovered after grant

If, after the grant of letters of administration with the will annexed or after confirmation thereof, a codicil
be discovered, it may be added to the grant on due proof and identification, and the grant altered and
amended accordingly.

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75A. Continuing trust arising

(1) If, after confirmation of the grant of letters of administration at any time there is a continuing trust
and only one surviving administrator, that administrator shall without delay apply to the court to
appoint, subject to section 66, as administrators jointly with him not less than one or more than
three persons as proposed by him, which failing as chosen by the court of its own motion.

(2) If a sole surviving administrator fails to apply to the court in accordance with subsection (1) within
three months of there being a continuing trust and only one surviving administrator, on the
application of any interested party in, or a creditor or debtor of the estate or of its own motion, the
court may appoint additional administrators in accordance with subsection (1).

[Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

76. Revocation or annulment of grant

A grant of representation, whether or not confirmed, may at any time be revoked or annulled if the court
decides, either on application by any interested party or of its own motion—

(a) that the proceedings to obtain the grant were defective in substance;

(b) that the grant was obtained fraudulently by the making of a false statement or by the concealment
from the court of something material to the case;

(c) that the grant was obtained by means of an untrue allegation of a fact essential in point of law to
justify the grant notwithstanding that the allegation was made in ignorance or inadvertently;

(d) that the person to whom the grant was made has failed, after due notice and without reasonable
cause either-

(i) to apply for confirmation of the grant within one year from the date thereof, or such longer
period as the court order or allow; or

(ii) to proceed diligently with the administration of the estate; or

(iii) to produce to the court, within the time prescribed, any such inventory or account of
administration as is required by the provisions of paragraphs (e) and (g) of section 83 or has
produced any such inventory or account which is false in any material particular; or

(e) that the grant has become useless and inoperative through subsequent circumstances.

Sealing of Commonwealth and Foreign Grants

77. Sealing of Commonwealth and foreign grants

(1) Where a court or other authority, having jurisdiction in matters of probate or administration in
any Commonwealth country or in any other foreign country designated by the Attorney-General
by notice in the Gazette, has, either before or after the commencement of this Act, granted probate
or letters of administration, or an equivalent thereof in respect of the estate of a deceased person,
such grant may, on being produced to, and a copy thereof deposited with the High Court, be sealed
with the seal of that court, and thereupon shall be of like force and effect, and have the same
operation in Kenya, as if granted and confirmed by that court.

(2) Before sealing a grant under subsection (1), the High Court-

(a) shall satisfy itself as to the payment of estate duty as provided by section 72;

(b) may require such evidence if any as it thinks fit concerning the domicile of the deceased
person;

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(c) may, on the application of any creditor of the estate, require that adequate security be given
for the payment of debts due from the estate to creditors residing in Kenya.

78. Duplicate or copy of foreign grant to have same effect as original

For the purposes of this Act, a duplicate of any grant sealed with the seal of a court or other authority in a
Commonwealth or foreign country, or a copy thereof certified as correct by, or duly on behalf of, that court
or authority, shall have the same effect as the original.

Powers and Duties of Personal Representatives

79. Property of deceased to vest in personal representative

The executor or administrator to whom representation has been granted shall be the personal
representative of the deceased for all purposes of that grant, and, subject to any limitation imposed by the
grant, all the property of the deceased shall vest in him as personal representative.

[Act No. 8 of 1976, s. 15.]

80. When grant takes effect

(1) A grant of probate shall establish the will as from the date of death, and shall render valid all
intermediate acts of the executor or executors to whom the grant is made consistent with his or
their duties as such.

(2) A grant of letters of administration, with or without the will annexed, shall take effect only as from
the date of such grant.

81. Powers and duties of personal representatives to vest in survivor on death of one of
them
Upon the death of one or more of several executors or administrators to whom a grant of representation
has been made, all the powers and duties of the executors or administrators shall become vested in the
survivors or survivor of them:

Provided that, where there has been a grant of letters of administration which involve any continuing
trust, a sole surviving administrator who is not a trust corporation shall have no power to do any act or
thing in respect of such trust until the court has made a further grant to one or more persons jointly with
him.

82. Powers of personal representatives

Personal representatives shall, subject only to any limitation imposed by their grant, have the following
powers—

(a) to enforce, by suit or otherwise, all causes of action which, by virtue of any law, survive the
deceased or arising out of his death for his personal representative;

(b) to sell or otherwise turn to account, so far as seems necessary or desirable in the execution of their
duties, all or any part of the assets vested in them, as they think best:

Provided that—

(i) any purchase by them of any such assets shall be voidable at the instance of any other person
interested in the asset so purchased; and

(ii) no immovable property shall be sold before confirmation of the grant;

(c) to assent, at any time after confirmation of the grant, to the vesting of a specific legacy in the
legatee thereof;

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(d) to appropriate, at any time after confirmation of the grant, any of the assets vested in them in
the actual condition or state of investment thereof at the time of appropriation in or towards
satisfaction of any legacy bequeathed by the deceased or any other interest or share in his estate,
whether or not the subject of a continuing trust, as to them may seem just and reasonable to them
according to the respective rights of the persons interested in the estate of the deceased, and for
that purpose to ascertain and fix (with the assistance of a duly qualified valuer, where necessary)
the value of the respective assets and liabilities of such estate, and to make any transfer which may
be requisite for giving effect to such appropriation:

Provided that, except so far as otherwise expressly provided by any will—

(i) no appropriation shall be made so as to affect adversely any specific legacy;

(ii) no appropriation shall be made for the benefit of a person absolutely and beneficially entitled in
possession without his consent, nor for the purpose of a continuing trust without the consent of
either the trustees thereof (not being the personal representatives themselves) or the person for the
time being entitled to the income thereof, unless the person whose consent is so required is a minor
or of unsound mind, in which case consent on his behalf by his parent or guardian (if any) or by the
manager of his estate (if any) or by the court shall be required.

83. Duties of personal representatives

Personal representatives shall have the following duties—

(a) to provide and pay, out of the estate of the deceased, the expenses of a reasonable funeral for him;

(b) to get in all free property of the deceased, including debts owing to him and moneys payable to his
personal representatives by reason of his death;

(c) to pay, out of the estate of the deceased, all expenses of obtaining their grant of representation, and
all other reasonable expenses of administration (including estate duty, if any);

(d) to ascertain and pay, out of the estate of the deceased, all his debts;

(e) within six months from the date of the grant, to produce to the court a full and accurate inventory
of the assets and liabilities of the deceased and a full and accurate account of all dealings therewith
up to the date of the account;

(f) subject to section 55, to distribute or to retain on trust (as the case may require) all assets
remaining after payment of expenses and debts as provided by the preceding paragraphs of this
section and the income therefrom, according to the respective beneficial interests therein under the
will or on intestacy, as the case may be;

(g) within six months from the date of confirmation of the grant, or such longer period as the court
may allow, to complete the administration of the estate in respect of all matters other than
continuing trusts, and to produce to the court a full and accurate account of the completed
administration.

(h) to produce to the court, if required by the court, either of its own motion or on the application of
any interested party in the estate, a full and accurate inventory of the assets and liabilities of the
deceased and a full and accurate account of all dealings therewith up to the date of the account;

(i) to complete the administration of the estate in respect of all matters other than continuing trusts
and if required by the court, either of its own motion or on the application of any interested party in
the estate, to produce to the court a full and accurate account of the completed administration.

[Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

84. Personal representatives to act as trustees in certain cases

Where the administration of the estate of a deceased person involves any continuing trusts, whether by
way of life interest or for minor beneficiaries or otherwise, the personal representatives shall, unless other
trustees have been appointed by a will for the purpose of the trust, be the trustees thereof:

Provided that, where valid polygamous marriages of the deceased person have resulted in the creation of
more than one house, the court may at the time of confirmation of the grant, appoint separate trustees of
the property passing to each or any of those houses as provided by section 40.

85. Assent necessary to complete legatee's title

(1) The assent of the executor shall be necessary to complete the title of the legatee to a specific legacy.

(2) Such assent may be verbal, and either express or implied from the conduct of the executor, and
shall be sufficient to divest his interest as executor therein, and (subject to any registration required
by any other written law) to transfer the subject of the bequest to the legatee.

(3) When the executor is a legatee, his assent to his own specific legacy shall be necessary to complete
his title thereto as legatee.

(4) The assent of the executor to a specific legacy shall give effect thereto from the death of the
testator.

86. Debts to be paid before legacies

Debts of every description enforceable at law and owed by or out of an estate shall be paid before any
legacy.

87. Personal representatives not bound to pay legacies without indemnity

If an estate is subject to any contingent liabilities, a personal representative shall not be bound to pay any
legacy without a sufficient indemnity to meet the liabilities whenever they may become due.

88. Abatement and refunding of legacies

Legacies shall abate and be refunded according to the provisions of the Sixth Schedule.

89. [Repealed by Act No. 19 of 2015, s. 24.]

90. Investment of funds to provide for legacies and interest on legacies

Personal representatives shall invest funds to provide for legacies in the manner and according to the
provisions set out in the Seventh Schedule to this Act; and legacies shall carry interest in accordance with
those provisions.

91. Transfer of assets from Kenya to personal representatives in country of domicil for
distribution
Where a person not having his domicil in Kenya has died leaving assets both in Kenya and in the country
in which he had his domicil at the time of his death, and there has been a grant of representation in Kenya
with respect to the assets there, and a grant of representation in the country of domicil with respect to
the assets in that country, the personal representatives in Kenya, after having given such notices as are
required by paragraph 5 of the Sixth Schedule and after having discharged, at the expiration of the time
therein named, such lawful claims as have come to their notice, may, instead of themselves distributing
any surplus or residue of the deceased's property to persons residing out of Kenya who are entitled

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

thereto, transfer, with the consent of the personal representatives in the country of domicil, the surplus or
residue to those personal representatives for distribution to those persons.

92. Protection of persons acting on respresentation

(1) Every person making or permitting to be made any payment or disposition in good faith under a
grant of representation shall be indemnified and protected in so doing, notwithstanding any defects
or circumstances whatsoever affecting the validity of the grant.

(2) Where a grant of representation is revoked or varied, payments and dispositions made in good faith
to a personal representative under that grant before the revocation or variation thereof shall be a
valid discharge to the person making the same, and a personal representative who has acted under
the revoked or varied grant may retain and reimburse himself in respect of any other person to
whom representation is afterwards granted might have properly made:

Provided that a personal representative who so acted shall account for all payments, dispositions,
retentions or reimbursements made by him to the person or person to whom representation is
afterwards granted.

93. Validity of transfer not affected by revocation of representation

(1) All transfers of any interest in immovable or movable property made to a purchaser either before or
after the commencement of this Act, by a person to whom representation has been granted shall be
valid, notwithstanding any subsequent revocation or variation of the grant either before or after the
commencement of this Act.

(2) A transfer of immovable property by a personal representative to a purchaser shall not be

invalidated by reason only that the purchaser may have notice that all the debts, liabilities, funeral
and testamentary or administration expenses, duties, and legacies of the deceased have not been
discharged nor provided for.

94. Neglect or misapplication of assets by personal representatives

When a personal representative neglects to get in any asset forming part of the estate in respect of which
re-presentation has been granted to him, or misapplies any such asset, or subjects it to loss or damage, he
shall, whether or not also guilty of an offence on that account, be liable to make good any loss or damage
so occasioned.

95. Offences by personal representatives

(1) Any personal representative who, as regards the estate in respect of which representation has been
granted to him—

(a) wilfully or recklessly neglects to get in any asset forming part of the estate, misapplies any
such asset, or subjects any such asset to loss or damage; or

(b) wilfully fails to produce to the court any such inventory or account as is required by the
provisions of paragraphs (e) and (g) of section 83; or

(c) wilfully or recklessly produces any such inventory or account which is false in any material
particular; or

(d) knowing or having reason to believe that the estate will prove to be insolvent, continues to
administer it without petitioning for administration thereof in bankruptcy,

shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings, or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Any personal representative who, as regards the estate in respect of which representation has been
granted to him if at any time there is a continuing trust and he is the sole surviving administrator,

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

wilfully fails to apply to the court within three months in accordance with section 75A for the
appointment of further administrators shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine not
exceeding five thousand shillings.

[Act No. 18 of 1986, Sch.]

Part VIII – MISCELLANEOUS

96. Sane murderer not to share in victim's estate

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a person who, while sane, murders another person
shall not be entitled directly or indirectly to any share in the estate of the murdered person, and the
persons beneficially entitled to shares in the estate of the murdered person shall be ascertained as
though the murderer had died immediately before the murdered person.

(2) For the purpose of this section the conviction of a person in criminal proceedings of the crime of
murder shall be sufficient evidence of the fact that the person so convicted committed the murder.

[L.N. 256/1976, Sch.]

97. Rules
The Rules Committee may make rules of procedure generally for the carrying out of the purposes and
provisions of this Act, and without prejudice to the foregoing generality, any such rules of procedure may
prescribe—

(a) the procedure to be followed by a court in determining applications under section 26 or subsection
(3) of section 35;

(b) the procedure to be followed by a court in granting probate or letters of administration;

(c) the procedure to be followed in the case of a dispute as to a grant;

(d) the form and manner in which applications under section 26 and subsection (3) of section 35 and
applications for grants are to be made, grants are to be issued, grants are to be limited, notices are
to be given, or inventories or accounts are to be produced;

(e) the fees to be paid on any application or grant, or on any other procedure related thereto.

98. Transitional
All proceedings commenced under any written law or part thereof repealed by this Act shall, so far as
practicable, be continued under this Act.

99. [Spent]

100. Amendments
The Acts set out in the first column of the Ninth Schedule are amended, in relation to the provisions
thereof specified in the second column of that Schedule, in the manner specified in relation thereto in the
third column of that Schedule.

101. Saving
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, nothing therein shall affect the provisions of—

(a) the Trustee Act (Cap. 167);

(b) the Public Trustee Act (Cap. 168);

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

(c) the Trusts of Land Act (Cap. 290);

(d) sections 218 to 222 of the Armed Forces Act (Repealed) concerning estates of deceased soldiers.

FIRST SCHEDULE [s. 22]

CONSTRUCTION OF WILLS
[Act No. 8 of 1976, ss. 16 and 17.]

General Rules

1. Wording of will

It is not necessary, in order to give effect to any disposition, that any technical words be used in a will, but
only that the wording be such that the intention of the testator can be known therefrom.

2. Meaning of clause to be collected from entire will

The meaning of any clause in a will is to be ascertained from the entire instrument, and all the provisions
of the will are to be construed with reference to each other; but where two clauses or provisions are
irreconcilable, so that they cannot possibly stand together, the last shall prevail.

3. Will speaks from death as to property comprised in it

Every will shall be construed, with reference to the property comprised in it, to speak and take effect as if
it had been executed immediately before the death of the testator, unless a contrary intention appears by
the will:

Provided that, in respect of the subject of a specific legacy, there shall be a presumption that the will
speaks as at the date of its actual execution.

4. Negative words insufficient to exclude person entitled on intestacy

Merely negative words in a will shall not be sufficient to exclude a person entitled on intestacy and in
order to effect such an exclusion there must be an actual gift to some other definite object.

5. Express gift cannot be controlled by reason assigned, etc.

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, an express and positive gift cannot be controlled by reason
assigned, or by subsequent ambiguous words, or by inference and argument from other parts of the will,
and is not affected by a subsequent inaccurate recital of, or reference to, its contents:

Provided that, in cases of ambiguity or doubt, recourse may be had to such reference in order to assist the
construction.

6. Implication admissible only in absence of express disposition

Implication shall be admissible only in the absence of an express disposition, and shall not be admissible
to control an express disposition.

7. Words may be supplied, rejected, etc.

Words and limitations contained in a will may be transposed, supplied or rejected, where such a course
is warranted by the immediate context or the general scheme of the will, but not merely on a conjectural
hypothesis of the testator's intention, and obvious clerical errors may be corrected.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

8. Technical words

Technical words shall be presumed to be employed in their technical sense, unless the context clearly
indicates the contrary.

9. Words in general

Words in general shall be construed in their ordinary and grammatical sense, unless a clear intention to
use them in another sense can be collected from the will and that other sense can be ascertained.

10. Words occurring more than once

Words occurring more than once in a will shall be presumed to be used always in the same sense unless the
context clearly indicates the contrary or unless the words are applied to different subjects.

11. Additional words

Where a testator uses an additional word or phrase, an additional meaning shall be presumed unless the
context clearly indicates the contrary.

12. Words construed so as to make them operative

When a clause or disposition is capable of two meanings, according to one of which it has some effect, and
according to the other of which it can have no effect, the former shall be preferred.

13. Intention to be given effect to

Where for any reason effect cannot be given completely to the testator's apparent intention, effect shall
nevertheless be given thereto so far as is possible.

14. Rules of construction not to be strained to validate gift

The rules of construction shall not be strained in order to bring a gift within the rules of law, but, where
the will admits of two constructions, the construction which will render the gift valid shall be preferred:

Provided that where a gift, valid in the first instance, is modified by some subsequent clause in the
same will or in a codicil thereto in such manner as to render the preceding gift void for remoteness, the
modifying clause, if separable from the original gift, shall be rejected as if such will or codicil had never
contained the same.

15. Inconvenience or absurdity of gift

The inconvenience or absurdity of a gift, or the fact that the testator did not foresee all the consequences
of his disposition, shall not be a ground for varying the construction of the will where the terms are
unambiguous; but, where the terms of any gift or disposition are ambiguous, the more rational of two
constructions shall be preferred.

16. Construction not to be varied by subsequent events

The construction of a will shall not be varied by events subsequent to its execution, but in determining
the meaning of particular expressions regard may be had to circumstances which, at the date of execution,
were capable of arising subsequent to that date.

17. Presumption against intestacy

A testator shall be presumed to calculate against intestacy and, subject to the provisions of paragraph 14,
a construction avoiding intestacy shall be preferred.

18. Presumption as regards gift over

A testator shall be presumed to calculate on the dispositions in his will taking effect; and a gift over shall
not, in the absence of clear intention, be construed as providing exclusively for lapse or other initial failure
of the original gift.

19. Independent gifts

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

Unless a design to connect them appears from the will, independent gifts shall be construed separately
and without relation to one another, notwithstanding that it may be conjectured from the circumstances
that the testator had the same intention with regard to all such gifts.

20. References to child, etc., to include illegitimate child, etc.

Unless a contrary intention appears from the will, the terms "child", "son", "daughter", "grandchild", and
"issue" and similar words shall be construed in accordance with the definition of "child" in subsection (2)
and with the provisions of subsection (3) of section 3 of this Act.

21. References to application of Islamic law to mean law of sect or school of testator

Unless a contrary intention appears from the will, where a testator declares that his property shall devolve
according to Islamic law, the Islamic law applicable shall be the law of the sect or school of Islamic law to
which the deceased belonged.

22. Particular rules of construction

The several particular rules of construction provided by the following paragraphs shall apply if, and so far
only, as a contrary intention is not expressed or implied in the will, and shall have effect subject to the
terms of the will.

Descriptions

23. Misnomer or misdescription of object

(1) Where the words used in a will to designate or describe a legatee, or a class of legatees, sufficiently
show what is meant, an error in the name of description shall not prevent the legacy from taking effect,
and it shall be sufficient for this purpose if the legatee, or class of legatees, is so designated as to be
distinguished from every other person or class.

(2) A mistake in the name of a legatee may be corrected by a description of that legatee and a mistake in the
description of a legatee may be corrected by the name of that legatee.

(3) Where the words used in a will to designate or describe a legatee are applicable to two or more persons or
classes of persons, or partly to one and partly to another person or class, the legatee or class of legatees
may be ascertained from the general context and the surrounding circumstances.

24. Rejection of erroneous particulars in description of subjects

If the thing which the testator intended to bequeath can be sufficiently identified from the description of
it given in the will, but some parts of the description do not apply, such parts of the description shall be
rejected as erroneous, and the gift shall take effect:

Provided that, if a will mentions several circumstances as descriptive of the thing which the testator
intends to bequeath, and there was any property in respect of which all those circumstances existed at
the date of execution of the will, the gift shall be considered as limited to that property, and no part of the
description shall be rejected as erroneous because the testator had at the date of his death other property
to which that part of the description does not apply.

25. Gift or disposition void for uncertainty

A gift or disposition not expressive of any definite intention shall be void for uncertainty:

Provided that—

(i) no gift for charitable purposes shall be void for uncertainty of the object; or

(ii) no gift whereby the legatee is expressly or impliedly given a right of selection, purchase or
disposition shall be void merely by reason of the uncertainty arising from that right.

26. Gift presumed to comprise whole interest of testator

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

Where property is bequeathed to any person, the gift shall be presumed to comprise the whole interest of
the testator in such property, unless it appears from the will that only a restricted interest was intended
for him.

27. Construction of bequest which refers to person as existing

The object of a gift which refers to a person or persons as existing shall be construed as at the date of the
will, unless a contrary intention clearly appears therein.

Residuary Bequests

28. Effect of general residuary bequest

A general residuary bequest shall comprise all free property of the testator as at the date of his death,
whether or not acquired after the date of the will, of which he has not otherwise disposed, and shall
include all free property of which he may have attempted but failed to dispose, even though expressly
excepted from the gift.

29. Effect of limited residuary bequest

A limited residuary bequest shall have the same effect as a general residuary bequest, subject only to the
specific limitation therein expressed or implied.

30. Effect of particular residuary bequest

A particular residuary bequest shall comprise all free property of the testator falling under the particular
description as at the date of his death, of which he has not otherwise disposed, and shall include all such
property of which he may have attempted but failed to dispose.

31. Effect of failure of share of residue

The failure of any gift of a share in a residuary bequest, whether general, limited or particular, shall not
result in that share accruing to the other shares therein, but, subject only to any subsequent residuary
bequest, shall create an intestacy in respect of that share.

General Legacy of Property not Possessed

32. General legacy of property not in testator's possession

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 8 to 14 of the Second Schedule, where a general legacy is in
the form of a gift of a specified type of property which is not at the time of the testator's death included in
his estate, the value of that gift shall, if it can be ascertained, be met from the testator's general estate, but
if the value thereof cannot be ascertained the gift shall fail.

Annuities

33. Annuity created by will payable for life only, unless contrary intention appears by will

Where an annuity is created by will, the legatee shall be entitled to receive it for his life only, unless a
contrary intention appears by the will, notwithstanding that the annuity is directed to be paid out of the
income of a specified fund or specified property.

34. Annuities for maintenance and education

Where there is the gift of an annuity for the maintenance and education of the beneficiary, that annuity
shall be deemed to be given for the life of the beneficiary.

35. Where will directs that annuity be provided out of property or where money bequeathed to be
invested in purchase of annuity

Where a will directs that an annuity shall be provided for any person out of the proceeds of property
generally, or where money is bequeathed to be invested in the purchase of an annuity for any person, the

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legatee may either have an annuity purchased for him or receive forthwith the money appropriated for
that purpose by the will.

36. Relation of annuity to residuary estate

(1) Where there is a direct gift of an annuity, or where a will manifests an intention that an annuity shall be
charged on the capital of the testator's residuary estate, the annuity shall constitute a charge upon that
capital.

(2) In all other cases, in default of specific provision, the annuity shall be payable only out of the income of
the residuary estate.

(3) In default of provision to the contrary, an annuity payable only out of the income of the residuary
estate, or of a specified fund or of specified property, shall constitute together with all arrears thereof, a
continuing charge on the whole of the income.

37. Commencement of annuity and time for payment when no time fixed by will

When an annuity is given by will, and no time is fixed for its commencement, it shall commence from the
testator's death, and the first payment shall be made at the expiration of one year after that event:

Provided that, where there is a direction that the annuity shall be paid quarterly or monthly, the first
payment shall be due at the end of the quarter or month, as the case may be, immediately after the
testator's death; and shall, if the personal representatives think fit, be paid when due but the personal
representatives shall not be bound to pay it until the expiry of twelve months after the testator's death.

38. Dates of successive payments directed to be made within given time or on day certain

Where there is a direction that the first payment of an annuity shall be made within any specified period
of time after the death of the testator, or on a day certain, the next payment to be made, and subsequent
payments, shall be made accordingly.

39. Apportionment

If an annuitant dies in the interval between the times for payment of his annuity, an apportioned share of
the annuity shall be paid to his personal representatives.

Gifts of Income

40. Gift of income for indefinite period

Where the income of any fund, property or residuary estate is bequeathed to any person, and the will
affords no indication of an intention that the enjoyment of the gift should be of limited duration, the
principal, as well as the income, shall belong to the legatee.

Gifts for Special Purposes

41. Effect of gift for special purpose

Where a gift is bequeathed solely for the benefit of the legatee, then, notwithstanding that words are
added to the gift expressing a purpose for which the gift is made, the legatee shall be entitled to claim the
gift without applying it to that purpose, whether or not the purpose be expressed in obligatory terms:

Provided that—

(i) where the gift is made subject to a gift over of any surplus remaining after the purpose has been
fulfilled, the provisions of this paragraph shall apply only to so much of the gift as is necessary for
such purpose;

(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply where the purpose specified is so expressed as to
create a condition or a discretionary trust with gift over, nor where the legatee is a minor.

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42. Effect of discretion as to time

Where a gift of a sum of money is directed to be applied solely for the benefit of a person in a certain way,
but the time within which the gift is to be expended is left in the discretion of the personal representatives
or of trustees, the beneficiary shall not, so long as the personal representatives or the trustees properly
exercise their discretion, demand payment of the money, but if he dies before the money is so applied, his
personal representatives shall be immediately entitled to the money.

Conditional Gifts

43. Express words unnecessary

No precise form of words shall be necessary to create a condition in a will, and any expression disclosing
such an intention of the testator shall have that effect.

44. Void Conditions

Any condition shall be void which—

(a) requires the performance of an illegal act, or is not legally enforceable; or

(b) is contrary to law, morality or public policy; or

(c) is uncertain, or is too vague to be enforced; or

(d) offends against any law as to accumulations, remoteness or perpetuities; or

(e) is impossible ab initio, or becomes impossible by the act or default of the testator, or by an act of
any court; or

(f) is repugnant to the gift to which it is annexed; or

(g) is in total restraint of the marriage of any person other than a widow; or

(h) is attached to a gift of capital to a widow, in total restraint of her marriage, without providing for
any gift over on default; or

(i) forbids dispute of the will, without providing for any gift over on default; or

(j) restrains alienation, voluntary or involuntary, of the subject of the gift:

Provided that nothing in this subparagraph shall affect or render void any discretionary trust with gift
over, or any life estate made determinable on bankruptcy.

45. Condition either precedent or subsequent

(1) A condition shall be either precedent, in that the performance thereof is made to precede the vesting
of a gift in interest, or subsequent, in that the non-performance thereof is made to determine a gift
antecedently vested in interest.

(2) In case of doubt, construction of a condition as a condition subsequent shall be preferred to construction
as a condition precedent.

46. Effect of void condition

(1) Where a gift is made upon a condition subsequent which is void, the gift shall be absolute.

(2) Where a gift is made upon a condition precedent which is void, the gift shall be void if—

(a) the void condition is the sole motive of the bequest; or

(b) the impossible nature of the condition was unknown to the testator; or

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(c) the condition is illegal as involving the performance of an unlawful act,

but in all other cases the gift shall be absolute.

47. Effect of impossibility supervening

(1) Where a gift is made upon a condition subsequent which was valid ab initio, but which has, for any reason,
become impossible before being performed, the gift shall be absolute.

(2) Where a gift is made upon a condition precedent which was valid ab initio, but which has, for any reason
other that the act or default of the testator or an act of any court, become impossible before being
performed, the gift shall be void.

48. Legatee bound by legal conditions

Where a legatee has taken a gift subject to a valid condition, he shall be estopped by his act of taking the
gift from subsequently insisting on rights which, by the terms of the conditions, he is bound to release, or
from declining a duty which he is required by the condition to perform.

49. One or two separate and independent bequests to same person may be accepted and the other
refused

Where a will contains two separate and independent gifts to the same person, the legatee may take one of
them, and may refuse the other, although either or both of the gifts was made upon condition.

50. Time in which conditions must be performed

Where a gift is made upon a condition, and no time is specified for its performance, the legatee shall
perform the condition within a reasonable time:

Provided that—

(i) where the condition is for the benefit of another person, then, in the absence of any specified time
in which the condition is to be performed, the legatee shall perform the condition upon demand
being made by that other person;

(ii) where the condition is the happening of a specified uncertain event beyond the control of the
legatee, the gift shall take effect if that event happens before the gift is payable or distributable, but
not thereafter.

51. Performance generally

The performance of a condition shall be such as to constitute a substantial compliance with the terms of
the condition:

Provided that, in respect of time, there shall be strict compliance where there is any express gift over.

52. Ignorance of condition

Where a gift is made upon a valid condition, ignorance of that condition shall not protect the legatee from
the consequences of his default, unless ignorance is attributable to the act of default of some person who
benefits by breach of that condition.

Gifts to Executors

53. Legatee named as executor cannot take unless he shows intention to act as executor

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If a gift is bequeathed to a person who is named an executor of the will for his own benefit, and is not
given independently of the office of executor, there shall be a presumption that he is not intended to take
the gift unless he proves the will or otherwise unequivocally manifests an intention to act as executor.

Vesting and Divesting of Gifts

54. Meaning and effect of vesting

(1) A gift shall vest in the legatee in interest when his entitlement to the gift, whether in possession or
reversion, or to be enjoyed in possession at some future time, becomes certain.

(2) Where the legatee dies before receiving possession of a gift already vested in him in interest that gift,
unless divested by his death, shall pass to his personal representative.

(3) Where the legatee dies before a gift vests in him in interest, the gift shall have no effect:

Provided that a gift over which is contingent only upon a collateral event, irrespective of the legatee
attaining a specified age or surviving a specified period, shall vest in the personal representatives of the
legatee if that event happens after his death.

55. Direction for vesting

A direction that a gift shall vest at any given time shall, unless it appears from the will to refer to vesting
in possession, be construed as referring to vesting in interest.

56. Time of vesting of general terms

If a gift be made in general terms, without specifying any particular time for the vesting thereof, the
legatee shall have a vested interest therein from the day of the death of the testator, or so soon thereafter
as he comes into existence or the terms of the gift may otherwise permit.

57. Vesting of contingent gifts

If a gift be made in terms which clearly indicate that the interest of the legatee shall be contingent upon
the happening of some uncertain event (other than the performance of a void condition not itself avoiding
the gift), such interest shall not vest in the legatee until the event has happened.

58. Gift may vest subject to subesquent divesting

A gift may be made to vest immediately on the testator's death or on the happening of a specified event,
notwithstanding that, by the terms of the will, it is subject to subsequent divesting on the happening or
not happening of some uncertain event.

59. Absolute gift with enjoyment postponed

Where a substantive gift is made subject only to a direction that it shall not be paid or delivered to the
legatee until the happening of some future event, the legatee shall acquire an immediate vested interest,
although vesting in possession shall be postponed in accordance with the direction:

Provided that a mere direction that the legatee attains an age exceeding full age shall be inoperative after
he attains full age.

60. Direction for payment without substantive gift

Where the gift consists solely in a direction to pay or distribute at a future age, or upon the happening of
some future event (other than performance of a void condition not itself avoiding the gift) without any

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substantive gift, the gift shall not vest in interest until that future age is attained or such future event
occurs:

Provided that when the payment or distribution appears to be postponed merely for the convenience
of the fund or the property, as the case may be, the vesting shall not be deferred as provided in this
paragraph.

61. Gift subject to attaining certain age or marrying

Where a gift is made to a legatee and the attainment of a certain age or marriage is introduced into and
made a constituent part of the description or character of the legatee, the vesting of the gift in interest
shall be postponed until the attainment of that age or marriage, as the case may be.

62. Effect of interim direction for maintenance

Where, under the terms of any gift the vesting thereof purports to be postponed to a given age and the gift
is accompanied by a direction that the intermediate income shall be applied for the maintenance of the
legatee, the gift shall vest in interest immediately, whether or not he attains that age:

Provided that this rule shall not apply to the gift of an entire fund to be distributed among a class of
persons equally on attaining a given age.

63. Ambiguity of vesting contingency or divesting

Where the terms of a will are ambiguous in respect of the vesting, contingency or divesting of a gift, it
shall, subject to all other rules of construction, be so construed as to give the legatee a vested rather than a
contingent interest.

Satisfaction

64. Presumed satisfaction of debt

Where a debtor bequeaths a gift to his creditor, and the gift is equal to or greater than the debt, there shall
be a presumption that the gift is intended to satisfy the debt, and not to be taken in addition to payment of
the debt:

Provided that this presumption shall arise only in respect of a debt contracted before the date of execution
of the will.

65. Presumed satisfaction of portion

Where a person who is under an obligation by contract to provide a portion for his child, or for some other
person to whom he stands in loco parentis, fails to do so, but makes a gift to that child or other person by
will, there shall be a presumption that the gift is intended to satisfy that portion, so far as the gift extends.

66. No presumed satisfaction of gift made previously in contemplation of death

A gift made by will shall not of itself raise any presumption that such gift is intended to satisfy or to take
the place of a gift, whether or not of equal amount, previously made to the same person by the testator in
contemplation of death.

Additional and Substituted Gifts

67. Two gifts to same person

Where a testator has purported to make two gifts to the same person, and a question arises whether he
intended to make the second gift instead of or in addition to the first, and if there is nothing in the will or
wills to show what he intended, the following rules shall have effect in determining the construction to be
put upon the will or wills—

(a) if the same specific thing is bequeathed twice to the same legatee by the same will, or by separate
wills, he shall be entitled to receive that specific thing only;

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(b) where one and the same will purports to make, in two places, a gift to the same person of the same
quantity or amount of anything, he shall be entitled to one of those gifts only;

(c) where two gifts of unequal amount are given to the same person by the same will, the legatee shall
be entitled to both gifts;

(d) where two gifts, whether equal or unequal in amount, are given to the same legatee by separate
wills, the legatee shall be entitled to both gifts.

Liabilities Incidental to Gifts

68. Liability for charges

(1) Where the free property of a deceased person includes an interest in property which at the time of his
death is charged with the payment of money, whether by way of mortgage, charge, lien (including a
lien for unpaid purchase money), pledge or otherwise, and the deceased has not by will, deed or other
document signified a contrary or other intention, the interest so charged shall, as between the different
persons claiming through the deceased, be primarily liable for such payment and every part of the interest,
according to its value, shall bear a proportionate part of the payment.

(2) Any contrary or other intention shall not be deemed to be signified by a general direction for payment of
debts out of any residuary estate, or by a charge of debts upon any residuary estate, unless the intention is
further signified by words expressly or by necessary implication referring to the payment so charged.

(3) A periodical payment in the nature of land revenue or in the nature of rent in respect of any period prior to
the death of the testator is not a payment contemplated by this rule.

69. Completion of testator's title to things bequeathed to be at cost of his estate

Where anything is to be done to complete the testator's title to the thing bequeathed, other than a
payment with which that thing is charged at the date of his death, it shall be done at the cost of his estate.

70. Exoneration of legatee's immovable property for which land revenue or rent payable periodically

Where there is a gift of any interest in immovable property, in respect of which payment in the nature
of land revenue or in the nature of rent has to be made periodically, the estate of the testator shall (as
between the estate and the legatee) make good such payments or a proportion of them, as the case may
be, up to the day of his death.

71. Exoneration of specific legatee's securities

In the absence of any direction in the will, any call or other payment due from the testator at the time of
his death in respect of any securities, of which there is a specific legacy, if the same is not then charged
upon those securities by way of lien or otherwise, shall, as between the testator's estate and the legatee,
be borne by the estate, but if any call or other payment becomes due in respect of those securities after the
testator's death, the same shall, as between the testator's estate and the legatee, be borne by the legatee, if
he accepts the gift.

72. Order of payment when legacy directed to be paid out of fund the subject of specific legacy

Where a portion of a fund is specifically bequeathed and a legacy is directed to be paid out of the same
fund, the portion specifically bequeathed shall first be paid to the legatee thereof, and the demonstrative
legacy shall be paid out of the residue of the fund, and, so far as the residue shall be deficient, out of the
general assets of the testator, in exoneration of the specific legacy.

73. Expenses to be borne by legatee

The costs of preservation, transfer or delivery of the subject of a specific legacy shall be borne by the
legatee.

Gifts to Survivors

74. Gifts to such of certain persons as shall be surviving at some period not specified

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(1) Where a gift is in effect made to such of certain persons as shall be surviving at some period, but the exact
period is not specified, it shall go to such of them as shall be alive at the time of payment or distribution
and capable of taking.

(2) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply whether the gift is to vest in possession immediately on the
death of the testator, or at some time subsequent thereto upon the termination of a prior interest:

Provided that, where the time of payment of distribution depends upon the happening of two events, one
of which is personal, and the other of which is not personal, to the legatee, the gift shall subject to all
other rules of construction, be construed as referring to the happening of the former event exclusively.

Exercise of Powers

75. Execution of power of appointment by general legacy or residuary bequest

Unless a contrary intention is clearly expressed or implied in the will—

(a) a general legacy or limited residuary bequest shall be construed to include any property falling
within the general description of such legacy or bequest over which the testator may have a general
power of appointment by will and shall operate as an execution of that power as regards such
property; and

(b) a general residuary bequest shall be construed to include any property over which the testator may
have a general power of appointment by will and shall operate as an execution of that power:

Provided that, unless an intention in that behalf is clearly expressed or implied in the will, no such gift
shall in either event be construed as an exercise of any power of revocation and new appointment.

76. Execution of special powers

No general legacy or general residuary bequest shall be construed as an execution of any special power of
appointment, unless an intention in that behalf is clearly expressed or implied in the will.

77. Particular residuary bequests

No particular residuary bequest shall be construed as an execution of any general or special power of
appointment unless an intention in that behalf is clearly expressed or implied in the will.

78. Implied gifts to objects of special power in default of appointment

Where by a will any special power of appointment is given over property, but no provision is made in the
event of default of appointment, the property shall, in default of any such appointment or so for as it
may not extend, belong to all the objects of such power in equal shares, subject to all appointments made
thereunder being brought into account.

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SECOND SCHEDULE [s. 23]

FAILURE OF TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS

By Lapse

1. Principle of lapse

(1) Save as is provided in this Schedule no gift or disposition shall confer any benefit on any person who
predeceases the testator, and where a gift or disposition fails on this account it is said to "lapse".

(2) Subject to the provisions of section 43 of this Act, the burden of proving that a legatee or appointee under
a will has survived the testator shall lie upon the person alleging survivorship.

(3) A statement in a will that there shall be no lapse shall have no effect, except and so far as a further legatee
or appointee, capable of taking, is designated.

2. Exceptions

(1) Unless a contrary intention appears in the will, there shall be no lapse in either of the following cases—

(a) where the gift or disposition is made in discharge of a moral obligation recognized by the testator;
or

(b) where the gift or disposition is in favour of any child or other issue of the testator, for any estate or
interest not determinable at or before the death of the child or other issue and the child or other
issue, as the case may be, leaves issue surviving the testator,

but in either case the gift or disposition shall take effect as if the deceased legatee had died immediately
after the testator.

(2) Where a gift or disposition is in favour of a described class of persons, notwithstanding that one or more of
the class is named, and any member of that class survives to take a vested interest, there shall be no lapse
but the survivor or survivors shall take the whole:

Provided that, if property is bequeathed to a class of persons described as standing in a particular degree
of kindred to a specified individual, but the vesting of their interest is deferred until a time later than the
death of the testator, by reason of a prior bequest or otherwise, the property shall at that time go to such
of them capable of taking as are then alive and to the personal representatives of any of them otherwise
capable of taking who have died since the death of the testator.

3. Gift to several named persons

Where there is a gift or disposition to several named persons, who do not constitute a class for the purpose
of the will, and one or more of those persons predecease the testator, then—

(a) if an intention appears from the will that those persons should take as joint tenants, or that only
the survivors of them should take, there shall be no lapse, if any of them survives the testator and is
capable of taking the whole; but

(b) if an intention appears from the will that those persons should take as tenants in common, and no
intention appears therefrom that only the survivors of them should take, there shall be a lapse in
respect of the share or shares of any of those persons predeceasing the testator, subject only to the
provisions of paragraph 2.

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4. Charges of gifts on gifts

Where one gift is charged on the subject of another gift—

(a) if the encumbered gift lapses, the charge shall continue to have effect notwithstanding the lapse;

(b) if the encumbering gift lapses, the legatee of the encumbered gift shall take the whole subject
thereof free of the charge,

unless a contrary intention is expressed or implied in the will.

5. Lapse of limited interests

The lapse of a limited interest shall accelerate the interests in remainder expectant on the determination
of the limited interest.

6. Effect on gifts over

Where a gift or disposition is made to one person with a gift over to another person in such circumstances
that the gift over would fail if the original legatee survived the testator, the lapse of the original gift or
disposition shall result in the gift over taking effect.

7. General effect of lapse

Subject only to the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, if a gift or disposition lapses, the property or
interest in the subject thereof shall pass under any residuary bequest which, but for the gift or disposition,
would have applied to such property or interest:

Provided that, if there is no such residuary bequest, or if the lapsed gift or disposition is itself a share of
such residuary bequest and there is no ulterior residuary bequest under which it can pass, then there shall
be intestacy in respect of the property or interest.

By Ademption

8. Principle of ademption

(1) If property which has been specifically bequeathed does not belong to the testator at the time of his death,
or has been converted into property of a different kind, the gift cannot take effect, by reason of the subject
thereof having been withdrawn from the operation of the will; and where a gift fails on this account, it is
said to be "adeemed".

(2) There must be a substantial change in the subject of a specific legacy to cause ademption and a merely
nominal change shall not have that effect.

9. Change of subject without testator's consent

Where property specifically bequeathed undergoes a change between the date of the will and the testator's
death, and the change is caused by a wrongful conversion, the gift shall not be adeemed, but where the
change is caused by the authority of any written law, whether or not approved by the testator, there shall
be ademption unless the written law effecting the conversion provides otherwise.

10. Gift of interest in fund

The gift of an interest in a fund shall not be adeemed by any sale or change of investment of the fund by
the persons having control thereof, nor shall it be adeemed by the testator receiving it before his death,
whether or not thereafter sold or re-invested by him, if it can at his death be followed and distinguished.

11. Non-ademption of demonstrative legacy

A demonstrative legacy shall not be adeemed by reason that the property on which it is charged by the will
does not exist at the time of the death of the testator, or has been converted into property of a different
kind, but it shall, in that case, be paid out of the general estate of the testator.

12. Revival of will does not revive adeemed legacy

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The revival of a will shall not revive an adeemed gift, so as to give the legatee any interest in any property
then representing the original subject of the adeemed gift.

13. No presumption of intention

Apart from any intention which may be expressed or implied in the terms of the will itself, there shall be
no presumption of intention that ademption shall or shall not in any particular circumstances result:

Provided that the intention of the testator, to be ascertained according to the ordinary rules of
construction, shall always be relevant to determine the precise subject of the gift.

14. Ademption by subsequent provision

Where a testator makes a gift by will to any person for a specific purpose, or to any child or other person
to whom he stands in loco parentis by way of portion, and after the date of execution of that will provides
by deed of settlement or otherwise for the same purpose or by way of portion for the same child or other
person, there shall be a presumption that the gift is adeemed by the subsequent provision, so far as the
subsequent provision extends.

THIRD SCHEDULE [s. 24]

ELECTION
1. Principle of election

(1) Where a person, by a will validly made in accordance with Part II of this Act, purports to dispose of any
property which is not his own, and bequeaths a gift to the person to whom that property belongs, the
legatee accepting the gift so bequeathed to him may elect to give effect to the testator's, attempted
disposition or to enforce his proprietary rights against that disposition.

(2) lf a legatee elects under this paragraph to enforce proprietary rights, he shall make compensation, out
of the gift bequeathed to him, to the person whom he has thereby disappointed, and the amount of the
compensation shall be assessed on the value of the attempted disposition as at the date of the testator's
death, but shall not exceed the value of the gift bequeathed to the person electing to enforce his prorietary
rights.

2. Where property belongs to more than one person

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Where a testator purports to dispose of property which belongs to more than one person, every such
person, if also a beneficiary under the will of that testator, shall have the right of election provided by
paragraph 1, to the extent of his interest in that property.

3. Testator's ignorance immaterial

It shall be immaterial to any case of election whether the testator, in purporting to dispose of property
which is not his own, was aware of his lack of title, or proceeded on the erroneous supposition that he was
exercising a power of disposition which belonged to him.

4. Legatee's ignorance material

A person shall not be bound to elect until all circumstances which may influence his election are known to
him, and, if a person elects in ignorance of any material facts, he shall not be bound by that election.

5. Implied election

Where there is no express election, it may be implied or inferred from acts, or from failure to dissent, but
such an inference shall not arise unless the legatee actually knows of his right to elect.

6. Postponement in case of disability

In case of any disability of a legatee entitled to elect, the election shall be postponed until the disability
ceases, or until the election is made by some competent authority or representative.

7. Extrinsic evidence inadmissible to prove intention

In order to raise a case of election the intention of the testator to dispose of the property not belonging to
him must be apparent on the face of the will, and extrinsic evidence shall not be admissible.

8. Cases to which doctrine does not apply

The principles of election set out in this Schedule shall not apply—

(a) to creditors; or

(b) to legatees who hold the property of which the testator has attempted to dispose in some capacity
other than that in which the gift is made to them; or

(c) where the property of which the testator has attempted to dispose does not belong either to the
testator or to the legatee, nor to any case where the legatee cannot by his own lawful act give effect
to that disposition; or

(d) where the legatee, although subsequently becoming the owner of the property of which the testator
has attempted to dispose, is not the owner of that property at the date of the testator's death; or

(e) to persons who, although taking no direct gift under the will, derive an indirect benefit therefrom.

9. Application to appointments under powers

The principles of election set out in this Schedule shall apply to cases of invalid appointments under
powers, but not where—

(a) the testator clearly shows he is aware that the appointment is of doubtful validity;

(b) the appointment is made to objects of the power absolutely, with merely a condition or proviso in
favour of strangers to the power; or

(c) the appointment is void for remoteness.

FOURTH SCHEDULE

[Repealed by Act No. 6 of 1984, Sch.]

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FIFTH SCHEDULE [s. 54]

FORMS OF LIMITED GRANT

Grant Limited in Duration

1. Probate of copy or draft of lost will

When a will has been lost or mislaid since the testator's death, or has been destroyed by wrong or accident,
and not by any act of the testator, and a copy or the draft of the will has been preserved, probate may be
granted of the copy or draft, limited until the original or a properly authenticated copy of it be produced.

2. Probate of copy where original exists

When a will is in the possession of a person residing out of Kenya, who has refused or neglected to deliver
it up, but a copy has been transmitted to the executor, and it is necessary for the interests of the estate
that probate should be granted without waiting for the arrival of the original, probate may be granted of
the copy so transmitted, limited until the will or an authenticated copy of it be produced.

3. Administration until will produced

Where no will of a deceased is forthcoming, but there is reason to believe that there is a will in existence,
letters of administration may be granted, limited until the will or an authenticated copy of it be produced.

Grants for the Use and Benefit of Others having Right

4. Administration, with will annexed to attorney of absent executor

When any executor is absent from Kenya and there is no executor within Kenya willing to act, letters of
administration with the will annexed may be granted to the attorney of the absent executor, for the use
and benefit of his principal, limited until he shall obtain probate or letters of administration granted to
himself.

5. Administration with will annexed to attorney of absent person who if present would be entitled to
administer

When any person to whom, if present, letters of administration, with the will annexed might be granted,
is absent from Kenya, letters of administration, with the will annexed, may be granted to his attorney,
limited as above mentioned.

6. Administration to attorney of absent person entitled to administer in case of intestacy

When a person entitled to administration in case of intestacy is absent from Kenya, and no person equally
entitled is willing to act, letters of administration may be granted to the attorney of the absent person,
limited as before mentioned.

7. Administration during minority of sole executor or residuary legatee

When a minor is sole executor or sole residuary legatee, letters of administration, with the will annexed,
may be granted to the legal guardian of the minor, or to such other person as the court shall think fit until
the minor has attained full age, at which period, and not before, probate of the will shall be granted to
him.

8. Administration during minority of several executors or residuary legatees

When there are two or more minor executors, and no executor who has attained majority, or two or more
residuary legatees, and no residuary legatee who has attained majority, the grant shall be limited until one
of them has attained full age.

9. Administration for use and benefit of person of unsound mind

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

If a sole executor or a sole universal or residuary legatee or a person who would be solely entitled to the
estate of the intestate according to the rules for the distribution of intestates' estates, be a person of
unsound mind, letters of administration, with or without the will annexed, as the case may be, shall be
granted to the person to whom the care of his estate has been committed by competent authority, or, if
there be no such person, to such other person as the court may think fit to appoint for the use and benefit
of the person of unsound mind until he becomes of sound mind.

10. Administration pendente lite

Pending any suit touching the validity of the will of a deceased person, or for obtaining or revoking any
probate or any grant of letters of administration, the court may appoint an administrator of the estate
of the deceased person, who shall have all the rights and powers of a general administrator, other than
the right of distributing the estate, and the administrator shall be subject to the immediate control of the
court and shall act under its direction.

Grants for Special Purposes

11. Probate limited to purpose specified in will

If an executor be appointed for any limited purpose specified in the will, the probate shall be limited to
that purpose, and, if he should appoint an attorney to take administration on his behalf, the letters of
administration, with the will annexed, shall accordingly be limited.

12. Administration with will annexed limited to particular purpose

lf an executor appointed generally gives an authority to an attorney to prove a will on his behalf, and the
authority is limited to a particular purpose, the letters of administration, with the will annexed, shall be
limited accordingly.

13. Administration limited to property in which person has beneficial interest

Where a person dies leaving property of which he was the sole or surviving trustee, or in which he had
no beneficial interest on his own account, and leaves no general representative, or one who is unable or
unwilling to act as such, letters of administration, limited to that property, may be granted to the person
beneficially interested in the property, or to some other person on his behalf.

14. Administration limited to suit

When it is necessary that the representative of a deceased person be made a party to a pending suit, and
the executor or person entitled to administration is unable or unwilling to act, letters of administration
may be granted to the nominee of a party in such suit, limited for the purpose of representing the
deceased in the said suit, or in any other cause or suit which may be commenced in the same or in any
other court between the parties, or any other parties, touching the matters at issue in the cause or suit,
and until a final decree shall be made therein, and carried into complete execution.

15. Administration limited to purpose of becoming party to suit to be brought against administrator

If, at the expiration of twelve months from the date of any probate or letters of administration, the
executor or administrator to whom the grant has been made is absent from Kenya, the court may grant, to
any person whom it may think fit, letters of administration, limited to the purpose of becoming and being
made a party to a suit to be brought against the executor or administrator, and carrying the decree which
may be made therein into effect.

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16. Appointment of person not normally entitled to a grant

Where it appears to the court to be necessary or convenient to appoint some person to administer an
estate or any part thereof other than the person who would in ordinary circumstances be entitled to a
grant of representation, the court may, in its discretion and having regard to all the circumstances of the
case, appoint such other person to be administrator and grant letters of administration, whether limited or
otherwise, as it shall think fit.

Grants with Exception

17. Probate or administration with will annexed subject to exception

Whenever the nature of the case requires that an exception be made, probate of a will, or letters of
administration with the will annexed, shall be granted subject to such exception.

18. Administration with exception

Whenever the nature of the case requires that an exception be made, letters of administration shall be
granted subject to that exception.

Grants of the Rest

19. Probate or administration of rest

Whenever a grant, with exception, of probate, or letters of administration, with or without the will
annexed, has been made, the person entitled to probate or administration of the remainder of the
deceased's estate may take a grant of probate or letters of administration, as the case may be, of the rest of
the deceased's estate.

Grants of Effects Unadministered

20. Grant of effects unadministered

If the executor to whom probate has been granted has died, leaving a part of the testator's estate
unadministered, a new representative may be appointed for the purpose of administering such part of the
estate.

21. Administration when limited grant expired and still some part of estate unadministered

When a limited grant has expired by effluxion of time, or the happening of the event or contingency
on which it was limited, and there is still some part of the deceased's estate unadministered, letters of
administration shall be granted to those persons to whom original grants might have been made.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

SIXTH SCHEDULE [s. 88 & 91]

ABATEMENT AND REFUNDING OF LEGACIES

Abatement

1. Abatement of general legacies

(1) If the assets, after payment of debts, necessary expenses, and specific legacies, are not sufficient to pay all
the general legacies in full, the latter shall abate or be diminished in equal proportion, and the personal
representative has no right to pay one legatee in preference to another nor to retain any money on account
of legacy to himself or to any person for whom he is a trustee:

Provided that nothing contained herein shall prejudice or affect the priority of the remuneration to
which any personal representative may be entitled under the will (including any general legacy which is
expressly or impliedly conditional on his proving the will) or otherwise.

(2) For the purpose of abatement, a legacy for life, a sum appropriated by the will to produce an annuity,
and the value of an annuity when no sum has been appropriated to produce it, shall be treated as general
legacies.

2. Non-abatement of specific legacy when assets sufficient to pay debts

Where there is a specific legacy, and the assets are sufficient for the payment of debts and necessary
expenses, the thing specified must be delivered to the legatee without any abatement.

3. Right under demonstrative legacy when assets sufficient to pay debts and necessary expenses

Where there is a demonstrative legacy, and the assets are sufficient for the payment of debts and necessary
expenses, the legatee shall have a preferential claim for payment of his legacy out of the fund from which
the legacy is directed to be paid until such fund is exhausted, and, if, after the fund is exhausted, part of
the legacy still remains unpaid, he shall be entitled to rank for the remainder against the general assets as
for a legacy of the amount of the unpaid remainder.

4. Rateable abatement of specific legacies

If the assets are not sufficient to answer the debts and the specific legacies, and abatement shall be made
from the latter rateably in proportion to their respective amounts.

5. Distribution after notice

Where personal representatives have given such notice as may be prescribed for creditors and others to
send in their claims against the estate of the deceased, the personal representatives shall, at the expiration
of the time therein named for sending in claims, be at liberty to distribute the assets of the estate or any
part thereof, in discharge of any lawful claims of which they have notice, and shall not be liable for the
assets so distributed to any person of whose claim they have not had notice at the time of distribution:

Provided that nothing herein contained shall prejudice the right of any creditor or claimant to follow the
assets, or any part thereof, in the hands of the persons who may have received them respectively.

Refunding

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

6. Refund of legacy to personal representatives

Where personal representatives have paid any legacy which, but for the payment, would have been liable
to abatement in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, they shall be entitled to call
upon the legatee to refund the amount by which the legacy should have been abated—

(a) if the legacy was paid under any order of the court; or

(b) if and so far as the abatement is rendered necessary by discovery of a debt of which notwithstanding
compliance with the provisions of section 90 of this Act, the personal representatives had no notice
at the time of voluntary payment of the legacy, but not otherwise.

7. Creditors call upon legatee to refund

A creditor who has not received payment of his debt may call upon a legatee who has received payment of
his legacy to refund the legacy, whether the assets of the testator's estate were or were not sufficient at the
time of his death to pay both debts and legacies, and whether the payment of the legacy by the personal
representatives was voluntary or not.

8. When legatee not satisfied or compelled to refund he cannot oblige one paid in full to refund

If the assets of a testator's estate were sufficient to satisfy all the legacies at the time of the testator's
death, a legatee who has not received payment of his legacy, or who has been compelled to refund the
legacy in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7, cannot oblige another legatee who has received
payment in full to refund his legacy, whether that legacy was paid to him with or without suit, although
the assets have subsequently become deficient by waste on the part of the personal representatives.

9. When unsatisfied legatee must first proceed against personal representatives if solvent

If the assets of the testator's estate were not sufficient to satisfy all the legacies at the time of the
testator's death, a legatee who has not received payment of his legacy shall, before he can call on a
satisfied legatee to refund, first proceed against personal representatives, if they or any of them be solvent,
but, if no personal representative be solvent or liable to pay, the unsatisfied legatee can oblige each
satisfied legatee to refund in proportion:

Provided that the refunding by one legatee to another shall not exceed the sum by which the satisfied
legacy ought to have been abated if the estate had been properly administered.

10. Refund when legacy has become due on performance of condition within further time allowed

Where the time prescribed by the will for the performance of a condition has elapsed, without the
condition having been performed, and the personal representatives have thereupon, without fraud,
distributed the assets, of the testator's estate, in such case, if further time has for any reason been allowed
by the court for the performance of the condition, and the condition has been performed accordingly, the
legacy cannot be claimed from the personal representatives, but those to whom he has paid it shall be
liable to refund the amount.

11. Refunding to be without interest

In all cases arising under this Schedule, any refunding shall be without interest.

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Law of Succession Act (Cap. 160) Kenya

SEVENTH SCHEDULE [s. 90]

INVESTMENT OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR LEGACIES AND INTEREST ON LEGACIES

Investment

1. Investment of sum bequeathed where general legacy given for life

Where a general legacy is given for life, the sum bequeathed shall, at or before the end of a year after the
death of the testator be invested in any authorized investment:

Provided that, where an annuity is given and no fund is charged by the will with its payment or
appropriated by the will to answer it, a sum sufficient to produce the annuity shall be invested in any
authorized investment.

2. Investment of general legacy to be paid at future time

(1) Where a general legacy is given to be paid at a future time, the personal representatives shall invest a sum
sufficient to meet it in any authorized investment.

(2) The intermediate interest from the investment shall, unless expressly or by implication payable to the
legatee or another, form part of the residue of the testator's estate.

3. Transfer to residuary legatee subject to contingent gift

Where a gift is contingent, the personal representatives shall not be bound to invest the amount of the
legacy, but may transfer the whole residue of the estate to the residuary legatee, if any, on his giving
sufficient security for the payment of the legacy if and when it becomes due.

4. Investment of residue bequeathed for life without direction to invest in particular securities

Where a testator has given any property to a person for life without any direction to invest it in any
particular securities, so much thereof as is not at the time of the testator's death invested in an authorized
investment, shall be converted into money, and invested in such an investment.

5. Interest payable pending conversion and investment

Until conversion and investment are completed in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, or
with the terms of the will, as the case may be, the person who would for the time being be entitled to the
income of the fund when so invested shall receive interest at the rate of six per centum per annum upon
the market value (to be computed as at the date of the testator's death) of such part of the fund as has not
yet been so converted and invested.

Interest

6. What contingent and future testamentary gifts carry the immediate income

(1) A contingent or future as well as an immediate specific legacy and a residuary bequest not contingent in
its terms of property, whether immovable or movable, shall, subject to the provisions of section 25 of this
Act and paragraph 5 of this Schedule, carry the intermediate income of that property from the death of the
testator, except so far as the income, or any part thereof, may be otherwise expressly disposed of.

(2) In the case of any contingent or future gift, either specific or residuary, not falling under the provisions
of subparagraph (1), the bequest shall not comprise the intermediate income of the property or fund
bequeathed between the death of the testator and the vesting of the bequest.

7. Interest on general legacy

Where no time has been fixed for the payment of a general legacy, interest shall begin to run from the
expiration of one year from the testator's death; but where a time has been fixed for payment, interest

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shall begin to run from the time fixed; and in either event the interest up to that period shall form part of
the residue of the testator's estate:

Provided that interest shall run from the death of the testator where—

(i) the legacy is bequeathed in satisfaction of a debt; or

(ii) the testator was a parent or more remote ancestor of the legatee, or has put himself in the place
of a parent of the legatee, and the legatee is a minor, and no specific sum is given by the will for
maintenance; or

(iii) the legacy is bequeathed to a minor with a direction to pay for his maintenance thereout.

8. No interest on arrears of annuity within first year of testator's death

No interest shall be payable on the arrears of an annuity within the first year from the death of the
testator, although a period earlier than the expiration of that year may have been fixed by the will for
making the first payment of the annuity.

9. Interest on sum to be invested to produce annuity

Where a sum of money is directed to be invested to produce an annuity, interest shall be payable on that
sum from the death of the testator until so invested.

10. Rate of interest

The rate of interest payable under paragraphs 6 to 9 (inclusive), shall, unless otherwise expressly provided,
be six per centum per annum.

11. Application

The provisions of paragraphs 6 to 9 (inclusive) shall apply in so far as a contrary intention does not appear
from the will.

EIGHTH SCHEDULE

Spent

NINTH SCHEDULE [s. 100]

Spent

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