Nairobi, July 27 -- Many Kenyans spend years building wealth through homes, land, Sacco savings and investments, but far fewer think about what happens to the loans tied to those assets after they die.

However, unpaid mortgages, bank loans, digital credit and even hospital bills can determine whether beneficiaries inherit property or walk away empty-handed.

"Under Kenyan law, a person's debts do not die with them; they must be identified and paid from the estate before inheritance is shared out," says Njuguna Muri, senior partner at MMTK Law, whose response was prepared jointly with senior associate Mary Audi and associate Fridah Muriithi.

Many people also misunderstand what legally constitutes an estate. "Section 3 of the Law of Succe...