This archive report was first published on 10 May 2021.
Former Nakuru North MP Dickson Kihika Kimani's estate has been at the center of a long-standing succession dispute. The case has been pending in court since 2005.
On February 14, High Court judge Justice Rachel Ngetich ruled that Florence Nduta, the late MP's daughter, would be one of the joint administrators of his estate, along with his four stepmothers. However, Margaret Wambui, the first wife to the late Kihika, has faulted the decision, claiming it was ill-informed and that Nduta does not have her interests at heart.
Wambui, 90, wants her third-born daughter Erishifa Wanjiru to take over the management of her share in the estate. She claimed that Wanjiru has her best interest at heart and would represent her well in the administration of part of the property.
Wambui had been married to Kihika for 50 years before he died. The succession case has been pending in court since 2005. The court had ruled that Nduta will be one of the joint administrators of her father’s estate, together with her four stepmothers.
On May 7, Wambui, through her lawyer, faulted the court's decision. She claimed that she has worked hard over the previous 15 years, and disposed of her administration duties honestly and fairly. She also stated that she has the consent of the beneficiaries to be replaced by her daughter Wanjiru.
Wambui and her co-wives Alice Mukuhi, Mary Wangari, and Miriam Warau had been clinging on to the administrative position since they were issued with letters of administration on October 13, 2009. The widows took over the property after the MP died on November 19, 2004, aged 78.
However, in 2018, their three children, Nduta (Wambui’s), Anthony Kihika (Mukuhi’s), and Judy Muthoni (Wangari’s) filed applications to replace them as administrators. The children claimed their mothers were old, senile, and unable to carry out the duties of administrators.
On January 24, 2019, Judge Anthony Ndung’u dismissed the application. The siblings were dissatisfied and filed an appeal dated April 17, 2019. It is still pending in the Court of Appeal.
Wambui had been married to Kihika for 50 years before he died. The succession case has been pending in court since 2005. The case will be mentioned on May 31, 2021.
