The passing of engineer Kata Matemu Kithyo in April 2024 not only led to a rare instance of two separate obituaries being published by his wives but has now escalated into a legal battle over his estate, valued at approximately Ksh 200 million.
Matemu, a respected figure and brother to former EACC chairperson Mumo Matemu, was initially mourned through distinct tributes authored by his widow Agnes Murorunkwere Kata and his former wife Prisca Mukethe Kithyo.
The two obituaries, published in the Daily Nation, presented different perspectives on the late Matemu’s life and family, with separate lists of children and grandchildren.
They also featured different images of him, one from Prisca’s family showing him in a bandana and hat, while Agnes’ version depicted a more recent image of him wearing a cowboy hat. Two obituaries, one inheritance dispute: Engineer Kata Matemu’s death has led to a bitter succession battle between his widow and ex-wife over his multimillion-shilling estate.
Wrangles have persisted over the succession of the late Kata Matemu’s estate since his death on April 18 2024 in Mombasa. His estate includes rental properties and a beach hotel in Ukunda, Kwale County.
Arianne Nduku, the fourth-born daughter of Matemu, has taken the battle to the doorsteps of suspected grabbers in a bid to save the father’s estate.
The dispute pits the widow Agnes Kata and her daughter Arianne on one hand against former wife Prisca Mukethe, who is said to be behind all the wrangles surrounding the late Matemu’s estate.
According to court records, Matemu legally divorced Prisca through a decree issued on August 29 1995.
“No cause was presented to the court to challenge the decree and as a result, their marriage was legally dissolved. Our father later married our stepmother Agnes Kata, who is his legal widow and a rightful beneficiary of his estate,” Arianne said in her statement.
Prisca is said to be using Melany Mwelu Kata, the firstborn daughter of Matemu who is allegedly going through a bipolar disorder due to alcoholism, to fight Agnes and Arianne in a bid to grab the estate from official beneficiaries.
Melany was admitted for two weeks at a rehabilitation facility in Miritini, Mombasa before her father’s death.
“A neighbour initiated her admission into a rehabilitation facility. However, Melany was released from her most recent rehabilitation stay just two weeks before our father’s passing and relapsed into alcohol use immediately after leaving the facility,” says the statement written on behalf of beneficiaries of the late Matemu’s estate and seen by Weekly Citizen.
Prisca is said to be pushing hard to be the main beneficiary in a battle that has turned against her after her recent arrest by Ukunda police over alleged trespass on the Matemu’s properties.
She was later arrested and charged with trespassing, illegally settling in the Millennium Hotel in Ukunda owned by the late engineer, and interfering with its operations.
The registered beneficiaries accused their late father’s ex-wife of having edged them out and taken control of revenue streams, including diverting funds meant for the late’s youngest son Samuel Kata’s school fees.
They vowed never to be silenced by ongoing threats and intimidations from their late father’s ex-wife Prisca.
In a recent statement written to DCI in Nairobi, Arianne complained of having received WhatsApp messages with threats to harm her and insults from her former stepmother Prisca and her son Mark Muinde.
She sees the ongoing succession battle as the cause of threats from her former stepmother.
Investigations over the alleged threats are still ongoing, according to DCI.
Arianne has urged the judiciary to speed up the hearing and determination of succession cases at Machakos and Milimani Law Courts so that the beneficiaries can settle and bring the family wrangles to an end.
She also refuted claims from Prisca and her family that uncle Mumo Matemu was a beneficiary in his late brother’s estate.
The late Matemu left behind Agnes Kata (widow), Mark Muinde Kata (son), Melany Mwelu Kithyo (daughter), Ruth Kivinya Kata (daughter), Arianne Nduku (daughter), Billy Nzuma Kata (son), Olga Mwikali Kata (daughter) and Samuel Wambura Kata (youngest son) as beneficiaries.
As legal proceedings continue, the succession dispute threatens to overshadow the legacy of the late engineer.