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By Judgment dated 8 th November 2024, the Applicant and Respondent were appointed as joint guardians of the Subject herein. The Subject is the biological father of the both the Applicant and the Respondent herein. By application dated 1 st July 2025 presented under Sections 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the Mental Health Act and Order 40 Rules 1,2 and 4 of the Civil procedure rules and Sections 1A, 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act, the Applicant seeks the removal of the respondent as a Co- Guardian.
The Application is supported by affidavit sworn on even date, in which the applicant lays the basis for the removal of the respondent. The grounds are that are that the respondent has not being cooperative, she has declined to attend meetings, frustrated the appointment of new estate managers, delayed the opening of a joint account, withheld information from the applicant. The actions and inactions of the respondent pose a risk to the estate of the Subject as there are liabilities to the estate that are not being settled.
The Respondent’s replying affidavit is sworn on 12 th August 2025. It is her averment that it is the applicant who is uncooperative and her attitude has made it difficult for them to act as co-guardians. She avers that she is timeously setting bills and other liabilities of the estate.
The Applicant has sworn a further affidavit on 22 nd August 2025 in which she reiterates her earlier averments and states that the respondent is misappropriating and wasting the estate.
The application was canvassed via written submissions. The Applicants submissions are dated 28 th August 2025.She frames the issue for determination as-
Whether the 1 st interested party, Zulekha Abdirahman Farah should be removed as manager
She restates the averments in her application and affidavit. She invites the Court to exercise its powers under Section 31 of the Mental Health Act to remove her as co- Guardian and Manager of the subject’s estate.
The respondent’s submissions are dated 12 th September 2025 and agrees that the issue for determination is; whether a basis has been laid for her removal as co Guardian and manager of the subject’s estate. She submits that the application is without merit.
ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION
The orders issued by the Court on 8 th October 2024 were to the effect that-
A Declaration hereby issues that the subject, ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN is a person suffering from Mental Disorder, within the meaning of Section 2 of the Mental Health Act Cap 248, the Laws of Kenya.
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH are appointed as Guardians and managers of the estate of the subject as provided under Sections 26, 27 and 28 of the Mental Health Act Cap 248 Laws of Kenya.
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall have joint physical and legal custody of the Subject at his primary residence at Adams Arcade and all the children of the Subject shall have unrestricted access to the Subject. Provided that ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall in consultation manage and make decisions regarding the care of the Subject and management of his affairs
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH are hereby appointed managers of the estate of ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN under Section 28 of Mental Health Act to manage his estate including any such description of moveable or immoveable property, money, debts and legacies, power to execute, sign all deeds and instruments relating to or evidencing the title or right to any property or giving a right to receive any money or goods.
THAT Pursuant to this appointment ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall deliver to court and the public Trustee, within 6 months, an inventory of the property belonging ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN
In accordance with Section 27(4) of the Mental Health Act,2022 ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall cause within 30 days the publication of notice in the Gazette, informing the public of their appointment as the managers of the estate ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN
The proceeds of rent and other revenue from the ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S properties be deposited in an account opened and operated jointly by the ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH. The proceeds will be used among other expenses to cater for the ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S needs and upkeep, especially medical care and specialized nursing care.
ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall file in this court bi-annual returns of the status of ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S estate. The 1 st report shall fall due on 30 th June 2025.
Mention on 10 th July 2025 to confirm compliance
Each party shall bear their own costs.
A guardian may be removed if they are no longer able to perform their duties, or are abusing their position or if the guardianship is no longer considered necessary. In the current matter, the guardianship is still necessary. The Court is presented with a situation where the joint guardians are unable to cooperate for the sake of safeguarding the welfare of the Subject.
As is evident the Guardians were required to submit to court and the Public Trustee an inventory of the property belonging to the subject and submit bi annual returns of the status of the estate of the subject. The first report was to be submitted on 30 th June 2025 and the matter slated for mention on 10 th July 2025.
This has not been complied with. Instead the Court is considering an application for the removal of one of the Guardians. As the parties’ posture before the Court, none of them has found it necessary to advise the Court on the condition of the subject. The Court is primarily focused on the welfare of the Subject, it is unfortunate that the parties wish to task the court with the responsibility for superintending their relationship.
In my view this is a case that favours the removal of both the guardians.
The orders of 8 th November 2024 were not a suggestion. The guardians are to have submitted a report to Court. I will extend the time of filing that report to 27 th November 2025, in the event the guardians are unable to submit the reports as directed under paragraph 41 (v) and (viii) of the judgment delivered on 8th November 2024, I will consider an application for the removal of both the guardians.
The matter will be mentioned on 27 th November 2025 to confirm the reports have been files. All the children of the deceased will attend the mention.
Each party will meet their own costs. The costs of this application will not be charged on the estate of the subject.
SIGNED, DATED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AT NAIROBI THIS 23rd DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025.
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By Judgment dated 8 th November 2024, the Applicant and Respondent were appointed as joint guardians of the Subject herein. The Subject is the biological father of the both the Applicant and the Respondent herein. By application dated 1 st July 2025 presented under Sections 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the Mental Health Act and Order 40 Rules 1,2 and 4 of the Civil procedure rules and Sections 1A, 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act, the Applicant seeks the removal of the respondent as a Co- Guardian.
The Application is supported by affidavit sworn on even date, in which the applicant lays the basis for the removal of the respondent. The grounds are that are that the respondent has not being cooperative, she has declined to attend meetings, frustrated the appointment of new estate managers, delayed the opening of a joint account, withheld information from the applicant. The actions and inactions of the respondent pose a risk to the estate of the Subject as there are liabilities to the estate that are not being settled.
The Respondent’s replying affidavit is sworn on 12 th August 2025. It is her averment that it is the applicant who is uncooperative and her attitude has made it difficult for them to act as co-guardians. She avers that she is timeously setting bills and other liabilities of the estate.
The Applicant has sworn a further affidavit on 22 nd August 2025 in which she reiterates her earlier averments and states that the respondent is misappropriating and wasting the estate.
The application was canvassed via written submissions. The Applicants submissions are dated 28 th August 2025.She frames the issue for determination as-
Whether the 1 st interested party, Zulekha Abdirahman Farah should be removed as manager
She restates the averments in her application and affidavit. She invites the Court to exercise its powers under Section 31 of the Mental Health Act to remove her as co- Guardian and Manager of the subject’s estate.
The respondent’s submissions are dated 12 th September 2025 and agrees that the issue for determination is; whether a basis has been laid for her removal as co Guardian and manager of the subject’s estate. She submits that the application is without merit.
ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION
The orders issued by the Court on 8 th October 2024 were to the effect that-
A Declaration hereby issues that the subject, ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN is a person suffering from Mental Disorder, within the meaning of Section 2 of the Mental Health Act Cap 248, the Laws of Kenya.
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH are appointed as Guardians and managers of the estate of the subject as provided under Sections 26, 27 and 28 of the Mental Health Act Cap 248 Laws of Kenya.
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall have joint physical and legal custody of the Subject at his primary residence at Adams Arcade and all the children of the Subject shall have unrestricted access to the Subject. Provided that ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall in consultation manage and make decisions regarding the care of the Subject and management of his affairs
THAT ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH are hereby appointed managers of the estate of ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN under Section 28 of Mental Health Act to manage his estate including any such description of moveable or immoveable property, money, debts and legacies, power to execute, sign all deeds and instruments relating to or evidencing the title or right to any property or giving a right to receive any money or goods.
THAT Pursuant to this appointment ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall deliver to court and the public Trustee, within 6 months, an inventory of the property belonging ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN
In accordance with Section 27(4) of the Mental Health Act,2022 ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall cause within 30 days the publication of notice in the Gazette, informing the public of their appointment as the managers of the estate ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN
The proceeds of rent and other revenue from the ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S properties be deposited in an account opened and operated jointly by the ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH. The proceeds will be used among other expenses to cater for the ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S needs and upkeep, especially medical care and specialized nursing care.
ASHA ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN and ZULEKHA ABDIRAHMAN FARAH shall file in this court bi-annual returns of the status of ABDULRAHMAN FARAH OSMAN’S estate. The 1 st report shall fall due on 30 th June 2025.
Mention on 10 th July 2025 to confirm compliance
Each party shall bear their own costs.
A guardian may be removed if they are no longer able to perform their duties, or are abusing their position or if the guardianship is no longer considered necessary. In the current matter, the guardianship is still necessary. The Court is presented with a situation where the joint guardians are unable to cooperate for the sake of safeguarding the welfare of the Subject.
As is evident the Guardians were required to submit to court and the Public Trustee an inventory of the property belonging to the subject and submit bi annual returns of the status of the estate of the subject. The first report was to be submitted on 30 th June 2025 and the matter slated for mention on 10 th July 2025.
This has not been complied with. Instead the Court is considering an application for the removal of one of the Guardians. As the parties’ posture before the Court, none of them has found it necessary to advise the Court on the condition of the subject. The Court is primarily focused on the welfare of the Subject, it is unfortunate that the parties wish to task the court with the responsibility for superintending their relationship.
In my view this is a case that favours the removal of both the guardians.
The orders of 8 th November 2024 were not a suggestion. The guardians are to have submitted a report to Court. I will extend the time of filing that report to 27 th November 2025, in the event the guardians are unable to submit the reports as directed under paragraph 41 (v) and (viii) of the judgment delivered on 8th November 2024, I will consider an application for the removal of both the guardians.
The matter will be mentioned on 27 th November 2025 to confirm the reports have been files. All the children of the deceased will attend the mention.
Each party will meet their own costs. The costs of this application will not be charged on the estate of the subject.
SIGNED, DATED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AT NAIROBI THIS 23rd DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025.
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