A public dispute over the estate of the late Nderitu Gachagua has taken a new turn after executors led by his brother, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, released detailed contents of the will in a bid to counter allegations of mismanagement and bring clarity to how the assets were shared among beneficiaries.
In a notice carried in local dailies on Wednesday, Rigathi Gachagua, alongside executors Mwai Mathenge and Njoroge Regeru, said the decision to publish the will was prompted by ongoing concerns raised by a section of beneficiaries and the wider public interest surrounding the estate. The move follows a letter by some family members seeking intervention from President William Ruto over claims of fraud, forgery and interference in the handling of the estate.
The executors said the disclosure was intended to settle the matter and respond to what they described as increasing scrutiny that was not based on full access to records.
“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.
They further explained that they were responding to what they termed a “public audit” being conducted without complete information, saying they were compelled to present an accurate account of the estate to avoid misleading conclusions.
“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.
According to the executors, the will had already been known to all 23 beneficiaries listed in the document, and its contents were not being revealed for the first time.
Nderitu Gachagua passed away on February 24, 2017, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Prior to his death, he had signed a will dated February 17, 2017, setting out how his estate would be distributed among his family members and other beneficiaries.
The document identifies 23 beneficiaries and provides specific instructions on the allocation of key assets. A house located in the Lang’ata/Karen area was left to his first wife, Margaret Nyokabi, to hold in trust for the family. She had already been occupying the property, and the executors confirmed that transfer documents were completed in her favour as directed in the will.
Two other properties, located in Karen and Nyeri, were allocated to his second wife, Margaret Waithiegeni, who was already living in the homes at the time of his death. The executors said the titles for the properties have since been transferred to her.
The ancestral home, which includes a four-acre parcel of land and a house, was given equally to the deceased’s two eldest sons, Kenneth Gachagua and Jason Kariuki. The two have been in possession of the property since 2022 and continue to reside there.
In addition, shares in Mweiga Homes were bequeathed to Rigathi Gachagua as part of the estate.
The will also sets out how the rest of the estate was to be shared after settling debts and obligations. Under the distribution plan, 62 per cent of the net estate was allocated to the immediate family, 22 per cent to 14 other beneficiaries including siblings and step-siblings, 11 per cent reserved for administrative expenses and liabilities, and five per cent collectively allocated to the three executors.
The executors also addressed the sale of several major properties, stating that they were sold above their reserve prices. Olive Gardens Hotel was sold for Sh 412 million against a reserve price of Sh 325 million, Queensgate Estate fetched Sh 590 million compared to Sh 470 million, while Vipingo Estate was sold for Sh 250 million against a reserve price of Sh 170 million. Together, the three transactions generated about Sh 1.25 billion.
They maintained that the sales were guided by the highest available offers and were carried out in line with their responsibilities to maximize value for beneficiaries.
The publication of the will is expected to heighten scrutiny of the estate, even as the executors insist that the process has been transparent and conducted in accordance with the wishes of the deceased.