Justice William Musyoka had on September 25 declared that Ms Wanjiru was not a beneficiary of the estates valued at more than Sh17 billion on grounds that she was not Koinange’s wife. PHOTO | FILE
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Eddah Wanjiru asked the court to stop distribution of the estate to allow her time to appeal against the judgement which revoked her claim to the estate.
A woman who was stripped of the right to inherit part of the late Mbiyu Koinange’s multi-billion shilling estate now wants to stop the distribution of his wealth.
Eddah Wanjiru, who claimed to be Koinange’s widow and that she had been one of the administrators of his vast estates, asked the court to stop distribution of the estate to allow her time to appeal against the judgement which revoked her claim to the estate.
“The applicant is seeking permission to appeal the judgment, but in the interim she wants execution of the ruling stopped. If the estate is distributed before her appeal, then she will suffer irreparable loss,” said senior counsel Paul Muite.
Mr Muite said the issue of Mr Koinange’s estates was too emotive for his family members and that it would be unfair if the beneficiaries go ahead to divide it only for the Court of Appeal to find that Ms Wanjiru was entitled to some portion.
Justice William Musyoka however declined to issue temporary orders stopping execution of his judgement, saying all the other parties in the dispute must be heard first before he makes any decision.
The judge had on September 25 declared that Ms Wanjiru was not a beneficiary of the estates valued at more than Sh17 billion on grounds that she was not Koinange’s wife.
Justice Musyoka also stripped another woman, Ms Margaret Njeri, of her claim of being Koinange’s widow and went ahead to appoint the deceased’s two sons David Njunu Koinange and David Waiganjo Koinange to be the administrators of the estate.
Justice Musyoka also revoked property owned by Ms Wanjiru and directed that it reverts to the estate. He cancelled land whose titles had been misplaced or lost and directed the chief land registrar to issue new ones.
The judge listed 32 properties, which included farms in different parts of the country, and shares in companies and directed the two brothers to take urgent steps to recover assets which changed hands in unclear circumstances.
The fight for Koinange’s billions was one of the longest running family disputes, having been filed in court soon after his death in 1981.
In February 20, 2012 the two brothers filed an application to make them the only administrators.
Justice Musyoka directed that she serves her application on all the parties.
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