Marathon star Lucy Kabuu fights ex-husband over property millions
What you need to know:
- The Kenyan marathon star was on August 4 this year suspended by the IAAF after testing positive to a banned performance enhancing substance.
- Kabuu, who won 10,000m gold and 5,000m bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, has the 12th fastest time in women's Marathon history of 2:19.34 from 2012 Dubai.
Milano Marathon champion Lucy Kabuu is locked in a bitter legal tussle with her ex-husband over the sharing of a multi-million matrimonial property.
The Kenyan marathon star was on August 4 this year suspended by the IAAF after testing positive to a banned performance enhancing substance.
Kabuu, who won 10,000m gold and 5,000m bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, has the 12th fastest time in women's Marathon history of 2:19.34 from 2012 Dubai.
Kabuu is fighting to keep the entire properties registered jointly under her name and that of her former husband Jeremiah Maina Kamungu saying that she single-handedly acquired them.
Maina, an ex-police officer, on the other hand wants the court to give orders for a 50-50 sharing plan.
He filed the case in 2014 seeking orders by the court to grant him 50 per cent of the total wealth that they amassed while they were married between 2009 and 2014.
DISPUTE
Maina argued that he financially contributed to the acquisition and development of several parcels of land in Nakuru, Nairobi, Nyandarua and Laikipia counties.
The properties in dispute include prime plots in Nakuru and Nairobi where commercial and residential properties stand, motor vehicles and parcels of land in other parts of the country.
In response, Kabuu, through her lawyer Elizabeth Mukira, said the two were not married but had cohabited for five years and were blessed with a daughter.
She dismissed Maina’s prayers that the court grants him 50 per cent of the wealth saying that she used the money she got from the competitions she took part in to acquire the property. Kabuu claims that she only allowed the plaintiff to oversee the development of the properties.
“Maina and I purchased some of the property in both our names when I was in the county but the rest was registered in his name due to my absence,” read part of the affidavit by Kabuu.
“He took advantage of my absence to enrich himself by withdrawing large sums of money and transferred it to his under the disguise of purchasing and developing the suit properties.”
ABUSE
The marathoner claimed she was forced to leave their home in Nyahururu after her former husband began abusing her physically. The court heard that Maina assaulted and threatened to shoot her in presence of their daughter.
The case, which was mentioned on Monday, failed to proceed after Maina requested for adjournment saying his lawyer was unwell.
His request was objected by Kabuu’s lawyer who accused him of trying to derail the case by creating technicalities for adjournment.
Justice Anthony Ndung'u directed the case to be mentioned on Tuesday.
