Kirima Children Row Over Court Order

18 July 2011

Nairobi — Differences in the interpretation of a court order have led to a public confrontation between the children of former Starehe MP Gerishon Kirima.

On Monday, the daughters of Mr Kirima’s first wife, with Administration Police officers in tow, blocked their step-siblings from entering a building belonging to their father.

In May, the court directed that the family agree on four trustees to manage the Sh750 million estate before two wills are read and interpreted.

Ms Mariah Kirima, a daughter of the first wife alleged that the court order only allowed the trustees to access the building.

However, Mr Steve Kirima and Ms Alice Kirima, son and daughter of the second and the third wives, respectively, said the order did not bar them from accessing the building.

“If there was a court order barring us from entering the building, police would be arresting us today instead of them,” Alice said, referring to the security guards at the entrance.

Alice read mischief in the move to bar the two families from accessing the building, which houses the offices in which tenants pay their rent.

She said the two trustees, Ms Anne Njuguna and Mr James Njuguna, were both members of the first wife’s family and were unable to give a conclusive statement of the estate’s finances when compelled by the court.

The family had planned to meet last Friday to agree on four trustees as directed by the court order, but no names were agreed upon.

Mr Steve Kirima claimed he was abused. The court will determine the beneficiaries of the Kirima estate on September 29.

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