Gachagua Releases Brother’s Will After Ruto’s Sharp Remarks Over Family Estate Dispute
The executors managing the estate of former Nyeri Governor, the late James Nderitu Gachagua, have now made public the long-disputed will, offering a detailed breakdown of how the late politician’s wealth and properties were shared among family members and other beneficiaries.
The move comes after growing public debate and fresh complaints from some members of the family, who alleged that there may have been fraud, forgery, and unlawful dealings surrounding the estate.
By publishing the will in local newspapers on Wednesday, April 8, the executors said they wanted to clear the air and provide the public and beneficiaries with a clear understanding of what the deceased intended.
The executors listed in the will are Mwai Mathenge, Njoroge Regeru, and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is also the younger brother of the late Nderitu Gachagua.
In their statement, they explained that the release of the document was necessary to “set the record straight” following widespread media coverage and public criticism.
According to a spot check by Newshub.co.ke, the will names 23 beneficiaries in total. Among those listed are nine close members of the late governor’s immediate family, including his mother, his two wives, children, siblings, and other relatives.
The document also gives very specific directions on how each property was to be distributed and how the remaining estate should be handled after debts were cleared.
Part of the statement from the executors noted that the current concerns appear to be coming from only five of the 23 beneficiaries, suggesting that the majority of those listed have not formally objected to the process.
“This statement is issued on the instructions of the Executors of the Estate of the late James Nderitu Gachagua in response to recent extensive media coverage of matters pertaining to the estate of the deceased. The statement aims to set the record straight with clarity and finality. From the media reports, it appears that concerns have been raised by five out of twenty-three beneficiaries,” part of the statement read.
In the distribution plan, one of the houses located in the Lang’ata/Karen area of Nairobi was left to the late governor’s first wife, Margaret Nyokabi, who was to hold it in trust for the wider family.
The executors explained that she has lived in that home since it was built, and they have already completed and signed all the required transfer documents to officially hand over ownership to her, as directed in the will.
The second wife, Margaret Waithiegeni, was allocated two separate houses located in Karen and Nyeri. At the time of the late governor’s death, she was already living in those properties.
The executors confirmed that the titles for both homes have since been successfully transferred to her name in full compliance with the instructions left behind.
The late governor’s ancestral home, which sits on four acres of land and includes the main family house, was left to his two eldest sons, Kenneth Gachagua and Jason Kariuki, in equal shares.
According to the executors, the two sons officially took possession of the property in 2022 and have been living there since then.
The will also shows that shares in Mweiga Homes were specifically bequeathed to Rigathi Gachagua, further highlighting the late governor’s intention to distribute not just land and buildings, but also corporate assets among selected family members.
Beyond the specifically named properties, the executors stressed that the will gave clear instructions that all remaining assets were to be sold, with the money first being used to settle all outstanding debts, legal liabilities, and third-party obligations that existed at the time of Nderitu Gachagua’s death. Only after all those obligations were cleared would the balance be distributed to beneficiaries.
The publication of the will comes only days after some members of the late governor’s family wrote directly to President William Ruto, asking him to intervene in the matter.
In their letter, they raised serious allegations of fraud, forgery, and illegal interference in the management and disposal of the estate.
Following the appeal, President Ruto publicly promised that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and that justice would be done for those who may have been wronged.
Speaking on the issue, the Head of State strongly criticized anyone accused of unlawfully withholding property meant for widows and children.
“You can insult me as much as you want, but I want to tell you that you must return properties belonging to the widows and orphans. You must return the hotel in Nairobi and the house in Kilifi to those who own them,” Ruto stated.
Property Sales and Distribution Formula
The will further gives a detailed formula on how the estate’s net value was to be shared after all debts, taxes, and related costs were settled.
Under this formula:
- 62 per cent of the net estate was allocated to Nderitu Gachagua’s immediate family
- 22 per cent was reserved for 14 other beneficiaries, including siblings and step-siblings
- 11 per cent was set aside for administrative costs and liabilities owed to outside parties
- The remaining 5 per cent was to be shared equally among the three executors as provided in the will
The executors also defended the sale of some of the late governor’s major properties, saying the transactions were done transparently and at prices well above the reserve values, which they described as proof that the assets were sold in the best interests of the estate.
Among the notable sales:
- Olive Gardens Hotel was sold for Ksh412 million, exceeding its reserve price of Ksh325 million
- Queensgate Estate was sold for Ksh590 million, compared to a reserve price of Ksh470 million
- Vipingo Estate fetched Ksh250 million, significantly above its reserve value of Ksh170 million
Combined, the three major property sales brought in a total of Ksh1.25 billion, a figure the executors say demonstrates that the estate was managed responsibly and with financial prudence.
The release of the will is expected to intensify public and legal scrutiny of the matter, especially after the political attention the dispute has attracted in recent days.
However, the executors insist that every action taken so far has been in line with the written wishes of the late Nderitu Gachagua.
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