By WINSTONE CHISEREMI
The High Court in Eldoret has directed administrators of the multi-billion property of the late KANU era MP William Cherop Murgor to sell a portion of his vast estate to cater for the upkeep of the three surviving widows.
The order was issued by Lady Justice Hellen Omondi who was handling the succession matter before she was promoted to the Court of Appeal as one of the Judges.
Omondi has ordered the administrators of the late lawmaker’s vast estate to sell four acres of the land left by the deceased to be used to address the needs of the widows who are going through hard times due to lack of money for their upkeep.
The matter was brought to the attention of the court by lawyer Omollo Aseso who is representing one of the parties involved in the vicious succession battle over the share of the late MP’s estate.
Initially when the case began nine years ago, the court had directed that the widows be paid monthly upkeep of sh 10,000 each.
But months ago, a section of the siblings claimed that there was partial compliance as the money was not paid consistently as directed by the court.
During the final hearing of the matter, Senior Counsel Philip Murgor who is representing Enid Cheptanui who filed the succession case told the court that the widows were suffering.
Let them enjoy their share of the estate while still alive
While urging the court to bring the almost decade-long case to an end, Philip argued that it was time to help the beneficiaries start
enjoying their share of the estate while still alive.
“One of the widows who is a cancer survivor had an operation to remove appendicitis and is suffering permanent stress as long as this case continues to drag on in court,” stated Murgor.
The Senior Counsel complained that the issue of widow’s upkeep had been brought before Justice Olga Sewe who initiated that the parcel of land be sold but the order was yet to be executed.
Treat all the widows equally
Justice Omondi expressed her worry in the issue of the widows’ welfare and told the beneficiaries to ensure that the widows are catered for while urging the children of the late MP to treat all the widows equally as they are all their mothers.
“I really don’t understand this…No matter how much property you take, you won’t be buried with any at the end of it all. The late MP did not leave with any of his property and neither will any of you. Please help the widows while they are still live and remember that in an African set up all of them are your mothers,” said an agitated Judge Omondi.
Side-lining other siblings
Cheptanui who resides in the US, went to court in 2012 suing two of their siblings, Francis Murgor and Chemutai Murgor who are
administrators of their father’s estate and Keiyo North MP James Murgor of side-lining other siblings and the widows in the sharing of their father’s estate estimated at sh 1.4 billion.
Cheptanui in her plaint argued that the MP who is the first born son to the deceased apportioned himself the bigger share of their father’s property at the expense of other siblings.
But Murgor while testifying before court said that he was gifted the 70 acre Kapkoi property, 50 acre Chepsigot farm and properties in Eldoret town by his father just like his other nine brothers who are also beneficiaries of their late father’s wealth.
According to his wishes
He told the court that the sons had been tasked with the job of taking care of their mothers and ensuring that they did not lack.
Some of the siblings told the court that their father observed Keiyo customary laws and his property was shared according to his wishes.
According to documents in court, William a renowned Kalenjin politician and long serving law maker during the KANU regime is said to have died from Alzheimer’s disease on September 28, 2006 aged 87.
He was married to Soti Murgor (five children three of whom are deceased) Rosa Kimoi Murgor — who had eight children (including current Keiyo North MP James Murgor), Rosalina Teriki Murgor (six), Anna Kimoi Murgor (four) and Philomena Murgor (two).
He left behind prime properties in Eldoret and Iten towns which have become the cradle of battle in the family.
The case will come up for mention on November 1, whereby a judgement date will be given.