Will in former MP Sh2 billion estate tussle a ‘forgery’

The battle over division of a Sh2 billion estate owned by a former prominent Rift Valley politician, William Murgor, has taken a new twist.

This was after the High Court in Eldoret was on Monday told the deceased’s Will, which his eldest son and the Keiyo North MP James Murgor relied on to bequeath himself the lion’s share of the multi-billion shilling estate, was fake.

James has been accused by some of his siblings of excluding them from the share of their late father’s estate that is spread across Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.

Lawyer Philip Murgor, who is representing the aggrieved siblings, told the court that the purported ‘Will’ allegedly left behind by the politician had been examined by officials from the national government and found to be a forgery.

The MP was put to task during cross-examination to explain the authenticity of the purported Will under which he was bequeathed a Sh400 million prime plot in Eldoret town. 

The court was treated to drama when James stated that he has never been the head of the family after the death of their father, who was a long-serving Kerio Central MP during the Kanu era.

The court was taken aback when the MP told Justice Hellen Omondi that he was only the head of his family that includes his wife, children and mother.

This was despite the fact that he has been chairing family meetings as the eldest son at his Kapkoi farm in Keiyo North on how the estate should be shared.

“Your honour, I’m shocked by the allegations made here in court. The truth of the matter is that I have never been the head of my late father’s family, but only the head of my immediate family, which includes my wife, children and mother,” said the lawmaker.

The MP further told the court it was against the Keiyo culture to include girls in the distribution of the family property.

He claimed he had allocated three sisters two acres each as part of the distribution of their late father’s wealth on condition that they should not build on it, sell to outsiders but only carry out farming activities.

Murgor was married to five wives ad sired 29 children.

The widows are Soti Murgor, Rosa Kimoi Murgor, Rosaline Murgor, Anne Murgor and Philemona Murgor.

The deceased, popularly known as ‘filimbi’ (whistler), left behind a vast estate that comprises several acres of agricultural land, and prime commercial and rental plots in Eldoret and Iten towns respectively.

Some of the property that are at the centre of the legal battle include a Sh400 million commercial plot in Eldoret town, and a Sh250 million plot in Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Enid Murgor has sued the MP on behalf of other siblings for denying them part of the multi-billion shilling wealth left behind by their father, who died in 2006 aged 87.