The prolonged inheritance dispute over the estate of former Starehe MP and businessman Gerishon Kirima has taken a volatile turn following the emergence of multiple claims involving unauthorized rent collection and alleged deployment of armed groups around contested properties in Nairobi’s Parklands area.
Weeks after the High Court formally revoked Teresia Wairimu Kirima’s authority to act as co-administrator, she has been accused of continuing to collect rent from tenants, contrary to the ruling delivered on 21st February 2025 in Succession Cause No. 1298 of 2011.
The estate, which comprises high-value real estate assets across the city, is now under the legal management of Anne Wangari Kirima and Stephen Kirima.
A public notice issued by the two warns tenants against making any payments to Wairimu or her agents, even as the situation on the ground deteriorates.
Sources familiar with the matter allege that opposing sides within the Kirima family have engaged goons to patrol the area surrounding the estate’s Parklands properties, some of whom reportedly operate under the guise of boda boda riders.
This development has raised alarm among residents and institutions in the area, who now fear for their safety as rival interests within the family feud spill over into the streets.
Following a High Court decision issued on 21 February 2025, Teresia Wairimu Kirima was removed as co-administrator of the estate, a position she had held since 2011 under Succession Cause No. 1298 of 2011.
The ruling revoked her Grant of Letters of Administration and appointed Anne Wangari Kirima and Stephen Kirima as the new legal administrators, with a directive barring Teresia from collecting rent, managing, or interfering with the estate’s assets.
Nonetheless, she has been accused of defying the court order by continuing to collect rental income through unauthorized agents and personal visits to tenants, prompting the appointed administrators to issue a public notice warning the public against making any further payments to her.
In defiance of the court’s directive, rental payments are still being channelled to Teresia Wairimu Kirima instead of the designated estate account, raising questions about financial accountability during the transition period.
Amid these administrative changes, the situation on the ground in Parklands has grown volatile.
Multiple sightings of suspicious groups have been reported near properties associated with the Kirima estate, particularly around 5th Parklands Avenue, Limuru Road, and the vicinity of the Aga Khan University Hospital’s rear gate.
Security alerts from the hospital’s management suggest that some of these individuals may be armed with crude weapons and are possibly posing as boda boda operators.
It is suspected that these groups have been hired or influenced by opposing factions within the Kirima family, as tensions over access and control of key properties remain unresolved.
The presence of these groups has disrupted normal activity in the area, with roads such as Mtama, Iregi, and Wangapala cited as likely to experience further instability.
The matter has been reported to Parklands Police Station, although residents and institutions in the area have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The estate, which comprises high-value real estate holdings in Nairobi, shares in various businesses, and undeveloped land, has been the subject of bitter legal battles among family members for over a decade.
The properties are located in various parts of the city, including Parklands, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Karen, Lavington, Mwiki, and Embakasi.
At the centre of the dispute is the question of rightful control and distribution of the estate, which has seen allegations of mismanagement, illegal occupation of assets, and manipulation of rental proceeds.
The removal of Teresia Wairimu Kirima followed court findings that she had occupied certain estate properties without legal basis and failed to remit rental income owed to the estate, thereby disadvantaging other beneficiaries.
Tensions escalated after control of the estate was handed to Stephen Kirima, her stepson, and Anne Wangari Kirima, his sibling, who are now tasked with overseeing the estate’s financial restructuring and eventual distribution.
As the legal process continues, the emergence of physical intimidation and the alleged deployment of gangs into residential areas has introduced a fresh layer of insecurity into what was previously a courtroom battle.
The situation remains fluid, and the risk of further confrontation appears to be growing amid unresolved family hostilities.
