Doctor’s family fights over estate

The family of an ill medical doctor is fighting with a man who claims he is her husband over the control of her vast estate valued at Sh100 million.

Dr Anne Wairimu Wahome’s two sisters and a brother want to be the guardians of the properties. Dr Wahome can neither walk nor talk.

They are accusing Mr Michael Githinji — who they say is their sister’s boyfriend but he says he is the husband — of plundering the estate.

The doctor’s immediate family — Mary Wambugu, Gladys Wathanga and brother Isaac Wahome — claim Mr Githinji is living with another woman and has no interest in their sister’s welfare.

Mr Githinji says he married Dr Wahome according to Kikuyu cultural rites and has sought the court’s orders to allow him manage the estate that includes land in Syokimau, residential homes in Karen and South C and motor vehicles.

Dr Wahome, who was brought to court on Tuesday for the hearing of the case in an ambulance then wheeled to court, lives in Nairobi with a sister, Ms Wambugu.

Ms Wambugu, her sister Wathanga and brother Isaac Wahome are accusing Mr Githinji of misusing funds in her bank accounts after she fell ill.

But Mr Githinji denies the allegation, saying he used the money to meet the medical needs of his wife.

Lawyer Mwenda Muriungi representing Dr Wahome’s family told trial Judge GBM Kariuki on Tuesday that Mr Githinji is living in the servants quarters of Dr Wahome’s palatial home in Karen, with another woman.

The doctor’s family wants permission to manage the estate so that they can use the proceeds to take care of her medical needs including 24-hour specialised nursing care.

Dr Wahome’s immediate family claims they were forced to conduct a fund raiser to send her abroad for treatment while her assets were going to waste.

But, in response to the allegations, Mr Githinji accuses Dr Wahome’s family of denying him access to his wife.

He maintains that Dr Wahome is his lawful wife having married him under Kikuyu customary law in 2001.

Mr Githinji denies that he has depleted the assets, saying, he has made numerous attempts to protect her interests.

He says he has played his role as a husband, given her moral support and has been there for her at all times despite being despised by her relatives.

The court will rule on who manages Dr Wahome’s property on January 19 next year.