A Kenyan woman is involved in a dispute with the family of a late Italian tycoon over the control of his Ksh2 billion estate in Malindi, Kilifi County.
A report by Nation indicates that Giovanni Forino, who died in January 2019, left an estate valued at Ksh2 billion including property such as Twiga resort in Watamu, real estate, vehicles, and funds in various accounts.
According to Caroline Wangui, she had been married to Giovanni Forino and they had sired a child who is now aged seven.
Wangui alleges that Forino, before his death, had placed a standing order in his company to remit Ksh35,000 a month to her.
"I affirm that my deceased husband took up his parental responsibilities of our son seriously. He had placed a standing order in his company (Gio-Fo limited) in favour of our son to the tune of Ksh35,231 a month," she stated.
She says she currently needs at least Ksh200,000 a month for her expenses, her son's welfare, healthcare and education.
Forino's family, however, claims that Wangui had sired the child with another man and not the tycoon. Through their lawyer Jackeline Kimeto, they claim that the birth certificates presented by Wangui were forged.
Kimeto affirmed to Nation that the family has applied to have a DNA test conducted on Wangui's son to determine if he's the real son of the tycoon.
Succession cases have been a subject of discussion and have locked billions in court as families dispute over the wealth of their kin.
Recently, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika's stepmother, Margaret Wambui lost her bid to control Ksh600 million property inherited from her husband, former Nakuru North MP Dickson Kihika Kimani.
This is after the High court replaced Wambui with her last-born daughter Florence Nduta as one of the administrators of the property.
Other prominent families that have fallen out over multibillion succession disputes include those of former Cabinet Ministers Njenga Karume, John Michuki, Mbuyu Koinange, among others.
