How Late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua Shared His Billions among 24 Beneficiaries

Details of how the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua shared his Sh2 billion wealth among 24 beneficiaries have emerged.

In a will seen by the Standard, the late Governor, who passed away while undergoing cancer treatment at a hospital in London United Kingdom in February 2017, wanted his entire estate, save for three houses he left to his two widows and two sons, be cashed out.

Those in the list of 24 beneficiaries included two sons he had sired out of wedlock; Jason Kariuki and Aston Gachagua who he fathered with Susan Wanjiru and Eva Mukami. However, their inheritance will be managed by their mothers, the will shows.

His wealth include Nairobi’s Olive Garden Hotel Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi and Queens Gate Serviced Apartment Spar and Resort, also in capital city.

None of the 24 inheritors received more that 10 per cent of the wealth as the late Governor acknowledged he was polygamous. He had two wives; Margaret Nyokabi and Margaret Waithegeni.

He gave his Lang’ata residence to Ms Nyokabi and ordered she would hold it in trust for her family, while Ms Waithegeni got the matrimonial home in Karen and another house in Meru County. 

Gachagua also bequeathed Kenneth Gachagua and Jason Gachagua, sons of Waithegeni and Nyokabi respectively, his ancestral home in Hiriga, Nyeri County, which sits on a four-acre land.  His older brother, Geoffrey Rigathi received part of the shares he held at Mweiga Homes in Nyeri. 

“Save for the properties I have personally bequeathed, I direct the executors of my will and administrators of the estate to liquidate the assets, and upon settlement of my liabilities, and distribute all the net proceeds,” he wrote. 

He bestowed the responsibility of executing his will upon his brother Rigathi, his close friend Mwai Mathenge and lawyer Njoroge Regeru. The three received five per cent of the proceeds. 

Kenneth and Jason Gachagua alongside their sisters, Susan Kirigo and Mercy Wanja, received the lion’s share of the estate at 10 per cent each, while their mothers got five per cent share each. 

Gachagua also gave his mother, Martha Kirigo, five per cent stake and directed Rigathi holds it in trust for her. Another brother Rigathi inherited five per cent, followed by another brother, Jackson Ririani, who received four per cent. 

His sons sired with Ms Mukami and Ms Wanjiru received five and three per cent share respectively. Three children of his late brother Fred Wachira got four per cent of the estate’s income. 

His sisters, Lilian Wangu, Linda Muthoni, Jennifer Gacheke and Eunice Nyangari, got one per cent each. His step-brothers and sisters, James Ririani, Johnson Kibaara, Peterson Wachira, Leah Wangari and Josphine Wangari were given three per cent of his wealth to share among themselves.

The balance, 11 per cent, would be used to settle taxes accrued by the estate and also for administering the same. 

“The tax should be paid out of the residuary estate and shall not be charged against any recipient, beneficiary, trustee, transferee or owner of such property or interest in property bequeathed to the beneficiaries under this will,” the will reads. 

“I direct that if any of the above listed beneficiaries raises any issue to the mode of distribution, he or she shall be disqualified automatically from inheriting any part of my property.”

Gachagua had Sh200 million cash in his bank account and was expecting some Sh13 million from a Mr Wahome by the time of his death. He owned plots in Karen, Vipingo Beach, Nairobi and Kiangwaci, as well as eight luxury vehicles that included a Mercedes Benz, Range Rover, BMW, Toyota Mark X and Audi Q7. 

He had shares in Vipingo Resort, Olive Garden, Hardrock Quarries Ltd, Tripple Eight Ltd and Queens Gate Serviced Apartment Spar and Resort Ltd. Gachagua, however said the companies belonged to him 100 hundred per cent and prohibited the family members from claiming an interest in the firms.

He directed family members who had shares in the companies to hand over documents to the trustees and also swear affidavits showing they had stepped down as directors to ensure the smooth implementation of his will. 

“The above noted assets, including properties held in the name of limited company, belong to me exclusively,” read the will witnessed by Jean Matu and Lydiah Kinuthia. “The person named as shareholders in various companies have no beneficial interest in the said companies,” the document added.