The recent release of Nderitu Gachagua's nine-page will has sparked a heated debate, with Rigathi Gachagua's brother's family laying bare the distribution of his multibillion-dollar estate. The will, signed a week before Nderitu's death in 2017, has been scrutinized by President William Ruto, who claims Rigathi manipulated it to disinherit widows and orphans. This has led to a full-throttle fightback by the Gachagua family, who are demanding an apology from at least five relatives and an independent investigation into the forgery of the will.
The family's paid-up newspaper advertisement reveals a complex property distribution, with the highest cash inheritance at Sh64.8 million and the lowest at Sh1.3 million. It also highlights the sale of Nderitu's assets, generating Sh648.8 million, and the settlement of his outstanding debts, totaling nearly Sh1 billion. The executors, including Rigathi, provided a detailed timeline of the will's execution, from its reading in March 2017 to the confirmation of the grant in March 2018.
The family chairman, Johnson Kibara Gachagua, questions the timing of the challenges, suggesting that the successors could have complained during the initial stages but chose not to. He attributes the current controversy to politics, implying that information was shared with President Ruto to tarnish Rigathi's reputation in the Mt Kenya region. Kibara also highlights the legal principle of estoppel, arguing that beneficiaries who accepted assets from the will cannot now claim forgery.
The will has received praise in Kenya's legal circles for its comprehensive approach to property distribution. Rigathi, in an interview, described it as the most advanced will in the country, ensuring everyone was taken care of. However, some beneficiaries are questioning its authenticity, leading to a complex legal dispute. The outcome of this battle will significantly impact the future of the Gachagua family's political and legal standing in Kenya.
