Rigathi Releases Late Brother Nderitu Gachagua’s Will Amid Dispute: How KSh 1.25B Estate Was Shared

Nderitu Gachagua//Courtesy

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, alongside two co-executors of the estate of the late former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, has made public the deceased’s will, detailing how his vast property was distributed among beneficiaries.

In a notice published in local dailies on Wednesday, April 8, the executors said the decision to go public was informed by widespread misinformation and disputes raised by a section of the family.

“The Executors would have preferred to limit the publication of affairs of the Estate to court filings and requisite engagement with the beneficiaries rather than engage in public discourse,” the statement read.

“However, the magnitude of inaccurate and misleading information disseminated widely in both mainstream and social media constrains the Executors… to come out to clear the air for the benefit of all parties concerned,” they added.

According to the will, the estate has 23 beneficiaries and is being administered by three executors: Rigathi Gachagua, Senior Counsel Njuguna Reguru, and quantity surveyor Mwaura Mathenge.

The distribution shows that one house in Lang’ata or Karen was allocated to the first wife, Margaret Nyokabi, to hold in trust for other family members.

Two additional homes in Karen, Nairobi, and in Nyeri County were assigned to the second wife, Margaret Wathiegieni.

The ancestral home in Kiamariga, Nyeri County, was left to the late governor’s sons, Kenneth Gachagua and Jason Kariuki.

The executors further disclosed that the estate had outstanding debts amounting to Ksh1.07 billion owed to banks and other creditors.

The liabilities were cleared through the sale of several properties, including Olive Gardens (Ksh412 million), Queensgate (Ksh590 million), and Vipingo Beach Resort (Ksh250 million).

After settling debts, the remaining cash was shared among beneficiaries, with Susan Kirigo, Mercy Wanjira, Kenneth Gachagua, and Jason Kariuki each receiving 10 percent.

Martha Kirigo, Margaret Nyokabi, Margaret Karungaru, Eve Mukami, and Rigathi Gachagua were each allocated 5 percent.

Susan Wanjiru and Dorcas Rigathi received 2 percent each, while Lilian Wamuyu and Linda Muthoni got 1 percent each.

Administrative costs and liabilities to third parties accounted for 11 percent of the estate, while the three executors jointly received 5 percent.

Additionally, Rigathi Gachagua inherited his late brother’s shares in Mweiga Homes.

The publication of the will comes amid an ongoing family dispute, with some relatives recently writing to President William Ruto seeking intervention over alleged tampering with the document.

They called for investigations into what they termed as a possible forgery and urged authorities to facilitate the return of all assets they claim rightfully belong to the family.

Speaking on Sunday, March 29, President Ruto accused Gachagua of disinheriting members of his late brother’s family and vowed to intervene.

“I am telling them to continue with the insults, but the property of widows and orphans — you will return it. There is no way you will escape that. That hotel in Nairobi, return it; that house in Kilifi, return it,” Ruto said.

He added that while he can withstand political criticism, vulnerable family members must be protected.

“Keep insulting me, I am a man, and I can defend myself. But widows and orphans cannot defend themselves. I will defend them; even before God, we will defend them,” he stated.