Ojodeh family in new court row

The widow of an assistant minister has accused her mother in-law of failure to state the amount she expects from the compensation package.

Mrs Mary Ojodeh, through her lawyer Fred Okeyo, told Lady Justice Joyce Khaminwa that failure of disclosure has made it impossible for her to know how much should be set aside to await the court ruling while she uses the balance of to meet her family needs.

The Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh was killed in a helicopter crash in Ngong on June 10.

Last week, the minister’s mother Mrs Ulda Ojodeh moved to court and obtained orders stopping the National Assembly from releasing benefits to her son’s widow, pending the hearing and determination of her application.

She argued that if the payments were not stopped, the widow was likely to take all the benefits without sharing with her and others who had been depending on the assistant minister.

The order had also stopped the release of Sh10 million which Mrs Ojodeh had told the court was the fee required for her son’s masters degree programme abroad.

“The late minister had several liabilities which need urgent attention, but can’t be addressed because of the court order. The most critical is payment of his son’s college fees which is still pending. It is now two weeks, but he has not reported to college due to lack of fees,” said Mr Okeyo.

“Mrs Ulda has not stated what amount she is entitled to, but she is stopping the whole fund. She should state the amount she is claiming so that it can be set aside to await the court ruling and the balance be given to the widow to pay fees and other liabilities,” added the city lawyer.

Mrs Ojodeh had filed new grounds claiming that her mother in-law was not a dependant, since she has substantive income and other assets she can rely on to earn a living.

She also said that Mrs Ulda has other children who are well established and are employed as managers and so can support their mother whenever the need arises.

She also said that the civil court had no forum to address family disputes. She wants the matter referred to the family division which that can address the assets of a deceased person.

The lawyer acting for Mr Ojodeh’s mother, Mr Charles Kanyangi on Wednesday sought two weeks to respond to the additional grounds that have been advanced by the widow.

“Mrs Ulda is an old woman in Ndhiwa, and we need two weeks so that we can go and explain to her about the new developments and seek her direction,” said Mr Kanyangi.

However, Mr Okeyo opposed and asked the court to give fewer days, saying the matter had dragged in court for long and should be heard and disposed of as soon as possible.

Lady Justice Khaminwa also noted the same, saying that the matter should be treated with priority. She said Mr Kanyangi has up to September 24 to file a response to the widow.

A lawyer representing the Clerk of the National Assembly also pleaded with the court to give directions on how the matter will proceed.