Former Cabinet minister Njenga Karume’s widow, Rev Grace Karume, has abandoned her children for the trustees in the fight for the control of her husband’s empire.
In an affidavit filed in court yesterday, Karume’s widow says she has taken the side of the trustees because that is what her husband wished for and the trustees have been doing a good job.
“As an observer in the Trust, I have been impressed by the determination of the trustees to achieve my husband’s vision,” Grace says.
Three of Karume’s children, Lucy, Samuel and Albert, are in court seeking to have the Trust disbanded, saying the trustees are mismanaging their father’s business empire.
The Njenga Karume Trust is managed by Mary Nduta, Ngugi Gatabaki and chairman Ngugi Waireri.
Karume’s widow has accused the children of raising many objections regarding the Trust and its operations, some of which she says are based on false allegations.
“Unfortunately for me and my son but deliberately on the part of others parties, the objections have had the effect of delaying the conclusion of the succession cause,” Grace says.
She says whereas those challenging the suit are adults, her son who is a child is greatly disenfranchised since he needs upkeep and school fees, among other things.
“It is therefore clear that the deterioration of the value of the estate will severely impact on my son whilst the impact on the other beneficiaries is ameliorated by the fact that they are adults,” Grace says.
Yesterday, the trustees got a reprieve after the High Court declined to charge them with contempt.
Justice Alfred Mabeya instead ruled that he will first hear an application by the trustees on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear a case in which the three children have accused Waireri, Nduta and Gatabaki of interfering with their father’s property.
The case will be heard on May 21.