WANGU KIMURE ADVOCATE OF THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA/ JUSTICE IS OUR SHIELD AND DEFENDER

  When Silence Costs Millions: Estate Planning Lessons for High Net Worth Families IN THE COURT ROOM, A Fortune in Dispute The Succession High  Court was unusually full that Tuesday morning. Word had spread through legal circles that the matter set for hearing — In the Matter of the Estate of the Late J.M.K. — involved not just a single parcel of land, but a business empire: four commercial properties in town, a fleet of matatus, shareholding in two private companies, a coffee farm in Subukia, and accounts held in three different banks. J.M.K. had built all of this from nothing over four decades. He was, by any measure, a high net worth individual. What he did not have, when he died suddenly of a heart attack at 68, was a valid will. What followed was two and a half years of litigation. A widow from his first marriage. A second wife married under customary law whose union was contested. Five adult children, two of whom had worked in the business for over a decade without ...

  Succession Planning for Landowners and Real Estate Investors in Kenya: Protecting Your Legacy Before It's Too Late Introduction For many Kenyans, land is the most valuable asset they will ever own. Whether you own a family farm, rental apartments, commercial buildings, undeveloped plots, or an extensive real estate portfolio, one question deserves serious attention: What will happen to your property when you are no longer alive? Unfortunately, many landowners spend decades acquiring wealth but very little time planning how that wealth will be transferred to the next generation. The result is often years of family disputes, costly court cases, frozen investments, illegal occupations, and permanent loss of valuable property. Succession planning is not about expecting death—it is about protecting your family, preserving your investments, and ensuring that your wishes are respected. What is Succession Planning? Succession planning is the legal process of arranging how your assets wil...

  What Should You Do When Your Sibling Locks You Out of Family Property? A Kenyan Legal Perspective The death of a parent or close relative should unite a family in preserving the deceased's legacy. Unfortunately, succession disputes often have the opposite effect. One of the most common complaints received by advocates is from beneficiaries who discover that a brother or sister has changed the locks, taken exclusive possession of family land or a house, collected rental income alone, or prevented other beneficiaries from accessing family property. If you have been locked out of family property by a sibling, it is important to understand that Kenyan law provides remedies to protect your rights. Acting promptly and lawfully can prevent further loss and preserve the estate until it is distributed. Does Your Sibling Have the Right to Exclude You? In most cases, the answer is No . Where property belongs to a deceased person, no beneficiary automatically becomes the sole owner merely be...