By Isaiah Lucheli
NAIROBI, KENYA: A lawyer who drafted the will of former Starehe MP Gerishom Kirima told the court that he only became aware of the existence of second will following the tycoon’s death.
During the hearing of a case where the former legislator’s family members are embroiled in a tussle over his vast estate, Ambrose Rachier said he learnt about another will when reading the initial one to the beneficiaries.
Rachier told the court that he had invoked the power of attorney for the first Will and registered it after he got instruction from Kirima to prepare the will.
Rachier who took on the witness stand yesterday explained that he had prepared the will under the instructions from the former MP when he was in United Kingdom.
“I recall sometime in September 2010, I received a call from Kirima who was at that time in UK and wanted me to draw for him a will. When I sought for details he told me he had prepared a trust deed detailing how he wished his property to be dealt with after his death,” he said.
Made Changes
Rachier explained that he got a copy of the trust deed and prepared a draft Will for the former MP and wanted to send him in UK but Kirima told him to take the draft to London personally.
“He stopped me from sending the draft will via email and insisted that I take it myself because he wanted me to be the one to keep the will and to be the one to read it to the family members if he passed on,” he told the court.
He explained that he got in touch with Kirima’s lawyer in the UK, Owen Thomas Lowry, who agreed to witness the signing of the Will and he travelled to the UK on the same month.
Rachier added that he handed over the copies of the draft will to the former MP who made the necessary amendments he deemed necessary after going through the documents.
The case is being heard before Justice Isaac Lenaola. The hearing continues December 17.
