My ex-husband didn't give a coin for Sh70m property, says athlete

Former athletics star Lucy Kabuu claims her ex-husband and former coach did not contribute anything in the purchase of their matrimonial property.

Kabuu now says Jeremiah Maina wants 50 per cent of the estate estimated to be worth over Sh70 million.

In her court documents, the 2006 Commonwealth 10,000 meters champion has also accused Maina of stealing her national identity card in 2012 to ensure all her earnings are channeled through his bank accounts.

Yesterday, however, she admitted that she left her ATM card with Maina when she went abroad in 2011 to enable him withdraw money to take care of their child.

“He stole my ID but I still left him my ATM Card for him to withdraw money from my account to support our child,” she testified.

The athlete could not explain why some of the matrimonial properties were registered in Maina’s name. At first, Kabuu said that Maina, who was earning Sh27,000,  being a police officer, could not afford to buy properties.

However, she admitted that at some point Maina’s net pay was below Sh10,000, meaning he might have taken a loan.

She also admitted that Maina used to send her money in addition to her contributions and even admitted that on October 22, 2013, she received Sh700,000 from Maina.

“He transferred Sh100,000 to my account on November 4, 2013, and another Sh100,000 on November 5, 2013,” admitted Kabuu.

Further, Kabuu, who was referred to Maina’s entries, admitted that he sold two properties at Sh2 million each, in April 2014. The property, she testified, was registered in his name.

Scrutinized further, Kabuu admitted that even though she sold some of the properties she allegedly owned in order to acquire more, she did not sign some of the sale agreements.

 Appearing before Justice Samwel Mohochi in Nakuru yesterday, Kabuu admitted that she did not pay Maina even though he was her assistant coach during her athletics tournaments between 2009 and 2012.

“I engaged him as an assistant coach. He was never paid for coaching me. He helped me with athletic competitions,” she said.

She told the court that she stayed with Maina for less than 20 days on every trip she went abroad. She also admitted that Maina used to leave his work to accompany her.

Their marriage was dissolved in 2020 after the court ruled it was irretrievable.

The disputed properties include prime plots in Nakuru, Nyandarua, Laikipia, and Nairobi, commercial and residential properties, motor vehicles, and parcels of land in other parts of the country. The hearing will continue on December 3.