You’re starving dad’s lions, Mutula Kilonzo Junior tells his stepmum

A rift has emerged in the family of former Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo barely two years after his mysterious death, The Nairobian can reveal.

In a stinging e-mail titled ‘Cruelty to animals’ and addressed to Nduku Kilonzo, Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr accuses his stepmother of neglecting the lions his father had kept at his vast Kwa Kyelu Ranch, along Mombasa Road. Nduku, however, dismissed Junior’s claims as “driven by malice and jealousy.”

“Mama Muathi, face the facts. There is no reason on earth and in heaven to treat these animals like this. The estate has livestock in Nakuru too. You have failed. Period! Your husband would beg to die again if he was to wake up from his grave to see this,” Junior wrote, alluding to pictures of emaciated lions, allegedly from the ranch.

“These pictures were taken yesterday (April 2). One of the starving lions is named after you. You don’t feed us, clothe us or do anything for the children of your late husband. What is so difficult with (sic) managing five animals?” the senator, also a lawyer, posed.

But Nduku laughed off claims that the lions were on the verge of death due to starvation and even offered to take The Nairobian on a tour of the ranch “so that you can see for yourselves that the lions are healthy and well.”

“I have seen those pictures he is circulating and I can tell you they have been photo-shopped. Please go to the ranch. I can even come so that you can see for yourself that the lions are in good health,” she said.

Her statement is however at odds with a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) report stating that its officers not only met Mrs Phyllis Nduku Kilonzo, but that she also “confirmed knowledge on the state of the lions... as having been caused by some of her workers who did not feed the lions despite being given meat.”

Nduku charged, “That boy (Mutula Junior) is just fighting me. He has always been fighting me and soon and I will not be able to hide it. Two weeks ago I went to Kiserian and bought 14 heads of cattle to be slaughtered for the lions. The animals (lions) are in good shape and they have never lacked anything,” Nduku said.

Following Mutula’s death, there appeared to be a disagreement in the family when Nduku said she would contest his Makueni senate seat despite her step daughter Kethi Kilonzo having been nominated to ‘inherit’ her father’s seat.

But Kethi was unable to run following a court tussle over her voter registration status, paving way for the election of her elder brother, Kilonzo Junior.