Slain tycoon's co-wives in legal tussle over property

One of tycoon Shahid Butt's widows has appealed a High Court decision that ordered her to live in the same house as her rival co-wife.

Since the tycoon's murder last year, his two widows - Regine and Akhtar - have been locked in a legal battle over his property, especially a palatial residence in Mombasa's Mkomani estate, which they are both laying claim to.

Last week, Justice Edward Muriithi ordered that Regine, who had been evicted from the house, be allowed back in.

This directive is now being challenged by Akhtar who has moved to the Court of Appeal and secured a hearing for July 6.

Akhtar, who is the older widow, had been enstranged from Butt before his death, and was living at the late tycoon's other home.

Divided family

However, her son, Harun Butt, was staying in the disputed home in Mkomani with Regine and his father.

After Butt's death, Harun invited his mother to the palatial home and they threw Regine outm causing her to seek redress from the court.

On June 15, Justice Muriithi ordered her return to the property and directed lawyers of the two parties to supervise the return within seven days.

The judge ordered the two women to either stay in the same homestead in different rooms, or that Akhtar move back to the house she used to live in before her husband died.

Akhtar immediately contested the decision and through her lawyer Charles Agwara, said Regine's return would cause acrimony in the divided family.

Regine now has to wait for the Court of Appeal's July 6 ruling to determine whether she should move back into the house or wait until the appeal filed by her co-wife is concluded.