All beneficiaries are well taken care of, says Trust

The Njenga Karume Trust has denied mismanaging the estate of the late veteran politician Njenga Karume or neglecting educational or medical needs of any of his children or grandchildren.

In a statement to the Sunday Nation on Saturday, the trustees said that Mr Karume’s children and grandchildren were enjoying wide-ranging benefits from their father’s estate ranging from school fees to medical cover.

They accused some of the beneficiaries of launching a smear campaign and giving biased and wrong information to the media.

“The management of the Trust is thus fulfilling the wishes of its founder, the late James Njenga Karume, albeit under extremely difficult circumstances,” said the statement sent on behalf of the trustees by lawyer Tom Macharia.

“A few of the beneficiaries have, however, launched a malicious and deceitful war of attrition against the trustees founded on tactics such as causing the publication of false and distorted stories in the local media,” Mr Macharia said.

“Beneficiaries who serve on the boards of Trust companies are entitled to additional allowances set in accordance with the policies of the respective boards. Some beneficiaries are also presently enjoying additional benefits such as payment of car mortgage,” said the lawyer.

PAID SCHOOL FEES

According to the statement, the Trust has established a policy regarding payment of school fees in respect of its beneficiaries including grandchildren.

The trustees say that as of the present school term, the Trust has paid school fees for all beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the said policy.

“In addition, the Trust has established a facility that pays for health insurance coverage for all the beneficiaries and is up to date with payment of premiums for the health cover presently maintained by UAP Insurance,” said Mr Macharia.

“The Trust also passed a resolution at one of its meetings held mid-last year to pay medical bills for beneficiaries that exceed the amounts covered by the health insurance due to special circumstances. The Trust is not aware of any beneficiary whose medical bills are unpaid unless a beneficiary has not informed the Trust,” the lawyer added.

He said that one of Mr Karume’s sons, Mr Samuel Wanjema, has approached the Trust with an appeal for assistance in meeting his obligation to pay fees for his children.

“He has been advised that his request, which exceeds the provision made for other beneficiaries under the terms of the Trust educational policy, is being considered,” the trustees said.

They attached a copy of a letter sent to him by email on March 25, 2015 in which they have asked him to withdraw his plan to take the Trust to court over the school fees matter so that they would “feel comfortable enough to consider your appeal.”

The trustees said in their statement that each of the beneficiaries is entitled, under rules established by the Trust, to food and drinks with a limit of Sh30,000 per month per family at any of the Jacaranda Hotels Group facilities.

Additionally, each of the beneficiaries is entitled to 10 days holiday accommodation on full board basis at any of the Jacaranda Hotels Group facilities which are the Indian Ocean Beach Resort and Lake Elementaita Lodge.