Barely a year after a Nairobi Court ended a 40-year battle for the control of the estate of former powerful minister Mbiyu Koinange, the case is back in court - pitting a son against his stepmothers.
Two of Mbiyu's widows sought to block their step-son from visiting his father’s property at Muthera farm in Mau Narok area.
The court rejected the request to block David Njuno from visiting the 4,292 acres estate pending its distribution.
Nakuru Resident Magistrate Isaac Orenge directed Njuno, the son of Koinange’s first widow, to be allowed to visit the controversial farm.
The two widows filed the application on 15 August, seeking to join a case filed by Mbiyu's son and obtained orders instructing the police to provide him with security when visiting the land.
The widows also sought to set aside court orders at their application after accusing Njuno of trying to impose himself on the land, excluding other administrators.
The businessman told the court that he wanted to visit the land to assess ongoing survey work, but that the area was volatile.
The magistrate noted that the orders were directed to the County Commissioner and thearea police commander, who did not object to the application.
“The court therefore will not interfere with the order that the said county commander and commissioner offer security to Njuno to visit the said land,” ruled the magistrate.
The petitioner was cautioned by the magistrate against misinterpreting the order to purport to be an eviction order.
The court also directed NJuno not to interfere with the survey works ongoing on the farm.
On May 7 last year Justice Muchelule in his ruling pronounced that the former minister's wealth would be shared equally among 12 beneficiaries.
He stated that all Mbiyu's offsprings were beneficiaries of the estate and that each would have an equal claim to the property.
The late minister, a close confidant of founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, left an estate and property valued at more than Ksh30 billion.
