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Heirs of Murang’a tycoons fight for multi-billion estates

Tuesday, May 28, 2019 — updated on October 01, 2020 - 6 min read

left to right: Kenneth Matiba, John Kagema, John Michuki and Gerishon Kirima. FILE PHOTOS | NMG

President Uhuru Kenyatta had a rather unusual message for mourners who attended the burial of billionaire businessman Kamau Thayu Kabugi in February this year.

He cautioned heirs of wealthy patriarchs to shun court wrangles and instead share their inheritance quietly, away from the public eye.

John Kagema. FILE PHOTO | NMG

JOHN MWANGI KAGEMA
He was the founding chief executive officer of Equity Building Society - now known as Equity Bank Group. The reclusive businessman died in December last year but his wealth is now subject to a legal battle after two women moved to court, claiming part of the estate.
Mr Kagema was mostly known as the owner of the luxurious Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha.
Serah Wanjiru Ngugi moved to court soon after widow Beatrice Wanjiku together with her sons, James Kagema and Daniel Wamahihu, filed a succession case at the Family Division of the High Court in Nairobi.
She has sought to join the case stating that the other family has deliberately left her out of the process. The woman has listed 21 companies, an insurance policy, at least 118 plots of land across the country, a mining company, and at least 19 motor vehicles as some of the properties Mr Kagema owned.
Another woman, Ms Esther Njeri and her 29-year-old son, Abraham James Gitangu Mwangi, later showed up staking a claim on the tycoon’s properties.

John Michuki. FILE PHOTO | NMG

JOHN MICHUKI
The no-nonsense Cabinet minister left behind a huge fortune for his children. He died of a heart attack on February 21, 2012. He was aged 80. All appeared well until November last year when Ms Yvonne Wanja, the last born of the Michukis, moved to court blaming her two siblings who were given powers by the High Court to administer the estate of having accumulated huge debts at Nairobi Hotels Limited, which owns a big share of the Windsor Golf Hotels and Country Club.
Ms Wanja fears that the debts have reached an alarming level, and sought an order from the court for them to be settled.
The former Kangema MP had invested in real estate, hotel industry, insurance and farming besides having huge sums in bank accounts.
Ms Wanja is seeking a sixth of her father’s estate. She says that her late father’s estate has not been valued to date, and that the administrators and beneficiaries of the estate estimated to be worth Sh65 billion should be reconciled since they are at loggerheads.
Claiming her siblings have failed to manage the estate as required by law, she now wants her portion of the estate and the transfer of a title deed for a house in Windsor Park without any cost implication on her part as those were the wishes of her father.
Wanja claims her siblings have not gone back to court to have the letters of grant confirmed.

The late Gerishon Kirima. FILE PHOTO | NMG

GERISHON KIRIMA
Mr Kirima died in December 2010 while undergoing treatment in South Africa, after being in a coma for one week.
His death sparked a series of court battles as some of his children fought for the control of his vast estate. They faced off with Kirima’s younger wife, Teresia Wairimu.
The late businessman’s estate is estimated to have been valued at more than Sh100 billion.
After years of court cases, the family came to an agreement in October 2013 for the administration of the estate and eventual distribution.
Justice Isacc Lenaola, then High Court judge, believed he had brought to an end the bitter family dispute, remarking that he had laboured for five years as he tried to finalise the distribution of the estate.
The Judge was forced to nullify two wills presented before him by the opposing parties and in the end, appointed Mrs Wairimu (widow) and Anne Kirima (daughter) as the co-administrators of the estate. He ordered them to move with haste and conclude distribution of the estate. The matter is still pending in court.

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Heirs of Murang’a tycoons fight for multi-billion estates

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PRIME State targets extra 421MW to grid by 2030

PRIME Stockbrokers cash in on NSE boom with Sh14bn in commissions

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PRIME MultiChoice cuts DStv prices in bid to win back subscribers

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