In re Estate of the Late Make Salehe (Deceased) (Succession Cause E068 of 2025) [2025] KEKC 15 (KLR)
The bottom line
#Kenya's Kadhi's Court confirmed it handles inheritance for Muslim families, dividing a Kilifi ancestral land among heirs under Islamic law.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.What constitutes the estate of the deceased herein
- 2.The legal heirs, their respective shares
Key legal issues
#Jurisdiction of the Kadhi's court over Muslim intestate estates
The court has jurisdiction over inheritance of estates of deceased Muslims conferred by Article 170(5) of the Constitution, Section 5 of the Kadhi's Court Act, and Sections 2(3) and 48(2) of the Laws of Succession Act.
The court traced its jurisdiction to Article 170(5) of the Constitution which limits Kadhi's court jurisdiction to questions of Muslim law on personal status, marriage, divorce or inheritance where all parties profess Islam and submit to the court. Section 2(3) of the Laws of Succession Act excludes Muslims from the Act, while Section 48(2) confirms the Kadhi's court's continuing jurisdiction over estates of deceased Muslims.
Constituents of the estate and devolution to heirs
The estate comprises land Portion No. 600 (1.376 acres) at Mambrui, which devolves to the enumerated heirs in the respective shares computed under Muslim law, with a son taking twice a daughter's share.
On the uncontested petition, the court found the land originally belonged to Swaleh bin Hemed, survived by three sons and Make Salehe. A family consent had earlier equalized the primary shares at 25% each because Ali bin Amman protected the land from squatters. The court then traced devolution through the heirs, computing daughters' shares at 50% of their father's estate per Q.4.11, and sons taking twice the female share.
Legal principles established
#- The jurisdiction of a Kadhi's court is limited to determination of questions of Muslim law relating to personal status, marriage, divorce or inheritance where all parties profess the Muslim religion and submit to that jurisdiction.
- Under Islamic law of inheritance, a daughter is entitled to a maximum of 50% of her father's estate, with a son taking twice the share of a daughter.
Court orders
#- 1.Determination that the parcel of land Portion No. 600 measuring 1.376 acres in Kilifi District at Mambrui constitutes the estate of the late Make Salehe
- 2.Determination of the legal heirs of the deceased and their respective percentage shares as set out in the judgment
- 3.Abdulghafur bin Hemed bin Swaleh appointed Trustee/administrator of the estate of Make Salehe
- 4.The Land Registrar – Kilifi to effect transmission of the estate to Abdulghafur bin Hemed as Trustee/administrator of the estate of Make Salehe
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Article 170(5) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010; Section 5 of the Kadhi's Court Act, Cap 11; Sections 2(3) and 48(2) of the Laws of Succession Act, Cap 160
Quotable passages
#Verbatim from the judgment, each located to the page it appears on in the official PDF — so these can be cited and checked directly.
The parcel of land Portion No. 600 measuring 1.376 acres in Kilifi District at Mambrui constitute the estate of the late Make Salehe.
The estate devolves to heirs in the shares indicated hereinabove.
Abdulghafur bin Hemed bin Swaleh is hereby appointed Trustee / administrator of the estate of Make Salehe.
The Land Registrar – Kilifi to efiect transmission of the estate to Abdulghafur bin Hemed as Trustee / administrator of the estate of Make Salehe accordingly.
Issues in the judgment
#List of Hemed bin Swaleh's heirs states twenty-one (21) children but enumerates twenty-two entries (xx. Swalha Hemed Swaleh and xxi. Twalha Hemed Swaleh), and elsewhere states twenty-four heirs comprising three widows, ten sons and eleven daughters while listing ten sons and eleven daughters plus three widows inconsistently with the 21/22 count.
Hemed bin Swaleh's share is described as '25% plus 25%; 12.5% share remainder from each of the shares' which is internally inconsistent (25% plus two 12.5% remainders would be 50%, but the phrasing is ambiguous).
The petition recites the deceased as 'Make Salehe' who died in 1910, while the estate is traced from Swaleh bin Hemed, with Make Salehe described as his mother; the identity of the deceased estate-holder is not further clarified.
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "In re Estate of the Late Make Salehe (Deceased) (Succession Cause E068 of 2025) [2025] KEKC 15 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2025). Succession Petition (not stated in judgment). Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kekc/2025/15/eng@2025-04-17
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.