Former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore
Two spouses of the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore have reached an agreement on how to share his wealth ending a protracted court battle.
Wambui Kamiru and Claire-Bishop, widows of Collymore, were up in arms over his vast wealth.
Collymore, a Guyana national with British citizenship, married Wambui when he came to Kenya, leaving Claire-Bishop behind in the UK.
He left two wills at the time of his death from cancer in July 20219.
One of the wills dated January 13, 2018, was for his estate in the United Kingdom (UK) and the other was dated April 18, 2018, his properties in Kenya.
The parties recorded a consent in court on September 23 and they came up with a mediation agreement dated July 15 2022 which has not been made public.
The consent which was adopted in court by Justice Maureen Odero read
“By mutual consent of all the disputants in this matter, all the applications in court concerning the matter under reference are removed by the act of signing this mediation agreement and the matter should be marked settled in the court records with effect from the date of this agreement.”
Before the case was settled, Wambui and Claire engaged in a vicious court battle over Collymore’s assets.
Claire, Bob’s former wife, wanted the court to cancel the authority given to Wambui to administer Collymore estate on July 28 last year.
She accused Wambui of failing to disclose and produce true records of the assets of the deceased including bank accounts and statements.
These she said were crucial in helping the court determine the distribution of Collymores estate. Bob Collymore and Wambui Kamiru during the wedding photoshoot
According to The Star, from the documents filed in court this year, Claire claimed she had not received any funds from the estate of the deceased since his death in July 2019 for the maintenance of their daughter as had been directed in the UK will.
“It is untrue that I have received any child maintenance for our daughter since her father’s death as asserted by Wambui despite many requests to do so,” the court heard.
She claimed that their daughters’ expenses were being predominantly funded by the stepfather’s pension and as at March 17 , the outstanding child maintenance fee was approximately Sh9 million.
She claims when Collymore died, he had assured her that there would be sufficient money for them.
Their son James also filed an affidavit seeking to have Wambui removed as administrator on grounds that she may have meddled with his father's UK assets hence the comingling with the Kenyan estate.
But Wambui in opposing the cancellation argued that no evidence was adduced to show the authority to administer the estate was obtained fraudulently.
She also argued that the deceased fully provided for his dependents in the UK will.
James received 345,000 pounds translating to Sh53 million under the UK will. The daughter is to receive Sh77 million. The monies are held in trust for her and caters for her requirements.
“There is therefore no basis in law or facty to revoke the grant issued by this court," he said.
She also denied claims that Claire did not receive funds for maintenance of their daughter.
Wambui further disclosed that she is no longer a trustee on the UK will and it is now managed by Zedra UK, a fiduciary services provider.
In 2015, Collymore revealed that he had assets worth Sh277.3 million spread out in cash, real estate, cars and shares in various companies.