This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
How late Nderitu Gachagua divided his billions among his family ¶
Published on December 4, 2019
Nderitu Gachagua, the late Governor of Kirinyaga County, left behind a vast wealth estimated to be in billions. His will, which was recently revealed by The Standard, shows how he divided his wealth among his family members.
According to the will, Gachagua's Sh. 2 billion property is to be sold and the proceeds shared among 24 beneficiaries. The beneficiaries include his two sons, Jason Kariuki and Aston Gachagua, who he fathered out of wedlock with Susan Wanjiru and Eva Mukami, respectively.
However, their share of the inheritance will be managed by their mothers. The properties included in the sale are Olive Garden Hotel in Nairobi, Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi, and Queens Gate Serviced Apartment Spar and Resort in Nairobi.
None of the beneficiaries got more than 10 per cent of the wealth. Gachagua acknowledged that he was polygamous, having two wives - Margaret Nyokabi and Margaret Waithegeni.
He left his Langata house to Ms Nyokabi, who was to hold it in trust for her family. Ms Waithegeni, on the other hand, got the matrimonial home in Karen and a house in Meru County.
Gachagua also bequeathed his ancestral home in Hiriga, Nyeri County, to his sons, Kenneth and Jason Gachagua, who were to share it equally. He also left his older brother, Geoffrey Rigathi, shares he held at Mweiga Homes in Nyeri.
The beneficiaries were allocated the wealth according to how close they were to the county chief. Gachagua's will also shows that his step-brothers and sisters, James Ririani, Johnson Kibaara, Peterson Wachira, Leah Wangari, and Josphine Wangari, would share three per cent of his wealth.
The balance, 11 per cent, would be used to offset taxes accrued by the estate and also for administering the same. Gachagua warned that if anyone went to court to challenge his last wishes, they would have to forfeit their inheritance.
At the time of his death, Gachagua had Sh200 million cash in his bank account and was expecting some Sh13 million from a Mr Wahome. He also owned eight state-of-the-art vehicles and had plots in Karen, Vipingo Beach, Nairobi, and Kiangwaci.
He also prohibited the family members from claiming an interest in the companies and directed that they should hand over documents to the trustees and also write affidavits indicating they had resigned as directors to ensure the smooth implementation of his will.
