Our husband wanted us to live in harmony, tycoon’s widow tells court

Ann Wanjiru (right) appearing via a video link before Justice Teresia Matheka on June 24, 2021. She is one of three women claiming to be a widow to former tycoon Washington Olweny. [Daniel Chege, Standard]

The late Nakuru tycoon Washington Olweny wanted his three wives to co-exist after his demise, the High Court has heard.

Ann Wanjiru, Olweny’s third wife, informed Justice Teresia Matheka of her husband’s last wishes before he died on November 28, 2016.

Wanjiru testified that on October 10, 2016, Olweny gathered his three wives; Wanjiru, Norah Atieno and Phelisia Akoth and urged them to live together in peace.

“He gathered us wives, and his extended family at Akoth’s house and pleaded with us to live as a family,” she said.

Wanjiru said that at the meeting, Olweny said all who had gathered were his people.

She said Olweny’s brother Edwin Juma and cousin Eliakim Odhiambo witnessed as Olweny introduced the wives to the family.

“My late husband called us to the living room. He told his brothers, 'What I am going to say here I will not repeat; All of you are my people’ and pointed at me and my co-wives,” Wanjiru testified.

She added that nobody in the room questioned Olweny over his statement.

Afterwards, Wanjiru testified, Olweny died and a family feud broke out among the three women who took the dispute to court.

She said Atieno and her were not allowed to attend meetings to plan Olweny’s burial and they moved to court to obtain orders to attend the burial.

The three have been battling over control of Olweny's Sh200 million property since 2017.

The hearing will proceed on November 15 and 22.