Act and Laws in Kenya

Notwithstanding 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 its execution conformed, either at the time of execution or at the time of the testator’s...

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.

(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...

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

(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...

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 (2) Where only part of a will has been revoked that part shall not be revived otherwise than by the re-execution thereof or by a subsequent will or codicil showing an intention to...

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

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.

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.

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...

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.

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 defendant; (c) the existing and future means and...

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, grand-parents, grandchildren,...

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.

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...

The provisions of this Part shall not apply to— (a) agricultural land and crops thereon; or (b) livestock, in various Districts set out in the Schedule: West Pokot Wajir Samburu Lamu Turkana Garissa Isiolo Kajiado Marsabit Tana River Mandera Narok

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.

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.

(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...

(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...

A surviving spouse entitled to a life interest under the provisions of section 35 or 36 of this Act, with the consent of all co-trustees and all children of full age, or with the consent of the court shall, during the period of the life interest, sell any of the property subject to that interest if...

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.

(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 I brothers and sisters, and any child or children of deceased brothers...

(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...

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...

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 of this Act, that...

Where two 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...

(1) The provisions of this Part shall not, in cases of intestacy, apply to those types of property mentioned in section 32. (2) The Minister 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 sections 45, 46, 48 and...

(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...

(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...