Widows fight to control ex-chief’s vast property

Two widows of a former colonial-era chief are embroiled in a court battle over control of his vast estate.

Trouble started when Kibor Talai died in 2012 aged 95 after a long battle with diabetes.

His first wife Tapyotin Talai, 84, went to court to seek letters of administration to allow her and her five children manage the sprawling estate spread across Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

Tapyotin disowned as fake a Will that her co-wife, Irene Talai, claimed was written by Kibor stating how his estate should be shared.

She argued that Irene, who has three children, did not contribute anything to the acquisition of the estate.

According to court documents, Kibor left ranch land and also planted trees for sale in Lelan area in Marakwet West. He also had 1,500 acres of agricultural land adjacent to the Moi University main campus in Kesses Constituency.

Other properties at stake include developed plots and commercial buildings on a 100-acre parcel of prime land situated opposite Moi University.

Through her lawyer Alexander Jaoko, Tapyotin told presiding judge Stephen Githinji that Irene was collecting Sh18 million annually as rent from businesses premises owned by Kibor.

During cross-examination, Irene insisted that Kibor had left behind a valid Will. She also objected to the petition, saying it would deny her what was her rightful share of the property.

“The deceased gifted me the prime land near Moi University on which stands several commercial business premises before he died. There is no way I will share it equally with the first wife.”

Irene also dismissed claims that she was raking in millions of shillings in rental income.

“I have never collected Sh18 million yearly as rent from the developed plots. In fact, Eaton Tower that used pay me monthly rent of Sh116,000 and Airtel, which paid Sh202,924 per month, terminated their tenancy two years ago,” she said.

Justice Githinji set the hearing of the case to November 25 and 26.