Karume Trust chairman claims his life in danger

The battle for control of billionaire businessman Njenga Karume’s property has taken a new turn after the chairman of his Trust filed a complaint with the police claiming that his life is in danger.

Ngugi Waireri says he filed the complaint with the police on Wednesday over fears that he and the Njenga Karume Trust’s legal advisor Kamau Karuri may be targeted.

“Mr Ngugi Waireri has recorded a statement at the Lang’ata Police Station and sent an official letter of complaint to the CID Director following a series of incidents that led him to believe that his life was threatened,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The move followed a heated meeting between Mr Waireri and the management of a holding company under the Trust’s care in which one of Mr Karume’s daughters stormed in and allegedly issued threats against the Trust’s chairman.

“The utterances and insults have created anxiety and fear for the life of Mr Waireri  as he goes on fulfilling his duties for the Trust.”

This comes amidst a protracted legal battle for control of Mr Karume’s businesses and wealth pitting the trustees against three of the late tycoon’s offsprings.

READ: Trustees of Karume empire fight removal from estate

The three children are battling Mr Karume’s trustees for control of the property he left behind after his death. Lucy Karume, Samuel Karume and Albert Karume claim that the trustees are mismanaging the late politician’s property and want to be given control of the vast business empire.

The trustees however contend that the children want to defy their father’s will, and that the businesses’ financial misfortunes started well before Karume’s death.

They further hold that they are renovating Pizza Garden and not demolishing it, contrary to the children’s claims. The renovations were part of Mr Karume’s plans, the trustees said.

The children recently lost a bid to jail the trustees for alleged contempt of court orders.  They held that the trustees authorised the demolition of Pizza Garden despite a court order stopping any dealings in the property.

Justice Alfred Mabeya declined to allow Lucy Wanjiru Karume, Samuel Wanjema Karume and Albert Kigera Karume to proceed with the contempt of court case, saying the application was premature and should not stop hearing of the main dispute.

Mr Karume’s vast empire includes expansive land, Cianda House in Nairobi, several apartments, Jacaranda Hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa, Lake Elementaita Lodge and Village Inn.

The children’s lawyers have however brushed off Mr Waireri’s claims as a diversionary tactic aimed at slowing down the settlement of the dispute.

“I have never heard of the issue of death. She meant they will go down in terms of the case, and not death. This is a diversionary tactic,” lawyer Peter Munge said of the alleged threat on Mr Waireri’s life.