Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly released the will of his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, to counter growing claims of mismanagement regarding the multi-billion shilling estate.
In a detailed notice published in local dailies on Wednesday, Gachagua – acting as an executor alongside lawyers Mwai Mathenge and Njoroge Regeru – stated that the move aims to settle persistent disputes raised by certain family members.
The executors explained that they decided to bring the private document into the public eye to provide clarity on the situation.
“The statement aims to set the record straight with clarity and finality. From media reports, it appears that concerns have been raised by five out of the 23 beneficiaries,” the notice read.
The legal team noted that they felt forced to publish a comprehensive account of their administration to stop what they described as an unfair and uninformed public trial.
“The Executors note that they have, in effect, been compelled to produce this accurate account of the Estate to ameliorate the prejudicial effect of a ‘public audit’ that is being conducted on the affairs of the Estate without the benefit of the full records, information and accounts,” the statement added.
The publication of these details follows recent appeals from several members of the Gachagua family to President William Ruto for help. In their plea, they requested an official investigation into claims of fraud, forgery, and unlawful interference regarding the estate’s management.
However, the executors maintain that the will’s contents are not a revelation, asserting that all 23 beneficiaries have known these details for a long time. Nderitu Gachagua passed away on February 24, 2017, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Before his death, he signed a will on February 17, 2017, which provided a specific roadmap for the distribution of his vast wealth.
Executors Detail How Billion-Shilling Estate Was Shared
The document outlines a meticulous plan for family members and other named heirs. It bequeathed a residence in the Lang’ata/Karen area of Nairobi to his first wife, Margaret Nyokabi, to hold in trust for the family. Additionally, the late governor left two properties – one in Karen and another in Nyeri – to his second wife, Margaret Waithiegeni, who resided in those homes at the time of his passing.
The executors confirmed they have already transferred the titles for these properties to her, fulfilling the deceased’s final wishes. Meanwhile, the ancestral home – a four-acre property featuring a residential house – went to his two eldest sons, Kenneth Gachagua and Jason Kariuki, in equal shares. The brothers took possession of the estate in 2022 and have lived there since. Additionally, the will bequeathed shares in Mweiga Homes directly to Rigathi Gachagua.
The document further details a specific percentage-based formula for the remainder of the wealth. According to this plan, the immediate family receives 62 percent of the net estate once all debts and liabilities are settled. Another 22 percent is divided among 14 other beneficiaries, including siblings and step-siblings. Administrative costs and third-party liabilities account for 11 percent, while the three executors share the remaining five percent.
The statement also clarified the sale of several high-value assets, noting that each property fetched a price well above its initial valuation. For instance, Olive Gardens Hotel sold for Sh412 million, far exceeding its Sh325 million reserve. Queensgate Estate brought in Sh590 million against a Sh470 million reserve, and Vipingo Estate sold for Sh250 million, surpassing its Sh170 million target. Altogether, these three transactions generated approximately Sh1.25 billion.
The executors described the sales as the best available offers and noted that they fulfilled their legal duty to maximize value for all heirs. While this transparency may sharpen public and family focus on the inheritance, the executors remain firm that they acted lawfully and transparently to honor the late governor’s instructions.
