A judge has expressed anger over delays by lawyers and family members to help finalise a long-running court battle over the multi-billion-dollar estate of former Ford Kenya official in Uasin Gishu Kibor Talai.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi expressed anger that family members and their lawyers had taken time to agree on the payment of a survey job on the deceased's land.
Talai left a vast estate of more than 3,500 acres, half of which is near Moi University. He also left several commercial plots and movable assets.
“I am annoyed because it’s simple for family members and their lawyers to agree on how much to each raise so that the survey is done to help finalise this matter," he said.
Nyakundi said it is embarrassing that the estate had financial resources, yet it was taking too long to agree on payments.
“If you don’t want to use the money you have then make it clear or even form a Whatsapp group to raise the money required," he said.
Nyakundi said the feuding family will take longer to know how many shares they will get from the estate.
He said he is ready to deliver his ruling on the succession case, but he couldn’t do so without the survey.
Justice Nyakundi told the deceased’s family that he will not deliver his ruling pending the outcome of a report from the surveyor.
Talai who was also a prominent cereal and dairy farmer, died 13 years ago aged 95. Two widows, Tapyatin Talai, 64, who has since passed away and Irene Talai, 57, have been entangled in a court fight over the control of the multi-billion shillings estate.
The estate left by the deceased includes more than 2,000 acres of land next to Moi University main campus in Kesses area, several commercial buildings and rental plots opposite the institution in Uasin Gishu county.
He also owned more than 1,500 acres of land under forest cover, pyrethrum plantation, sheep goats and cattle along the escarpment in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
“I need a report from the surveyor which will guide me on the decision that I will make concerning the distribution of the estate among the beneficiaries,” Nyakundi said.
The Judge asked them to expedite the survey to conclude the matter that has been in court for more than 12 years.
Justice Nyakundi asked lawyers involved in the matter to help the family conclude the dispute.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the family of the deceased and not anyone else. So, let’s not create unnecessary delays on this matter," he said.
Nyakundi said the family must complete the survey work by the time the matter comes up again next month.
He warned the feuding family that the spirit of the deceased was watching over them as they fought over the estate he left behind, instead of sharing it respectfully.
“I am told the dead also feel what we do here and am sure he is not happy about all this”, said Nyakundi.He said that he was ready to end the succession case on condition that the family meets the cost of the survey work as soon as possible.
During the hearing of the matter earlier, the deceased’s second wife told the court that her husband gifted her land near Moi University which hosts several commercial business premises, before he died. She vowed never to share the said multi-million shillings property with the children of her late first co-wife, who are demanding a share of the same.
The matter will come up for mention on July 10, 2025.
