Secrets of billions shared by Mr Money bags, Kuria Kanyingi

Former Lumuru MP Kuria Kanyingi said that anyone who contested his will would lose their inheritance.

Kanyingi, who died in 2014 aged 71, appears to have been determined to ensure that his family does not fight over his Sh2 billion estate after he was gone.

The MP, nicknamed Mr Money Bags for flaunting his wealth, said anyone challenging his will would forfeit their inheritance.

Documents show that Kanyingi owned property worth Sh1.162 billion. His wealth amounted to about Sh2 billion when his shares in various companies are factored in.

The former legislator appointed a pastor, an accountant, and a lawyer to oversee his trust.

“I desire that no one should change my wishes contained therein,” Kanyingi wrote. “I direct that anyone who wishes to contest my wish herein will have to return the properties I have given him or her and if he or she will have disposed of such property must deposit, with my trustees, the sum equivalent in value as at the date of his or her contest before challenging this will.”

It appears Kanyingi did not want his widows, Jerioth Wangui and Susan Wangu, and 10 children (eight boys and two girls) to engage in endless court battles over property, a common occurrence among many wealthy families.

Kanyingi’s trust, mandated to share his wealth equally among his two families, is chaired by Rev Robert Waihenya. The other members are lawyer Patriciah Muthoni and Mr Kenneth Muiru, an accountant. The officials were also directed to share the wealth equally between his two houses on a quarterly basis.

The will, seen by The Standard shows, the trust is to manage Kanyingi’s estate for 40 years.

“I direct that all properties I owned at the time of my death and what will be constituting my estate together with the buildings and improvements on the said properties be held for my wives, children, and grandchildren,” he directed.

Kanyingi also set aside money to maintain a church and his final resting place.

He directed that his family not sell the land where his mother was buried or where her homestead stood.

Kanyingi further said none of his kin should take over the land an that it should not be taken over by a third party no matter how much is offered.

“I desire and direct that LR 156/18, where I buried my mother, and LR 156/15, her homestead, will never be considered for sale to either members of the family or third partyies but will be retained throughout the generations as monuments,” the will reads.

To his first wife, Wangui, he left shares in Chahohn Company Limited and 1.7 acres of land. His second wife, Susan, inherited shares in Surioth Company Limited and 1.7 acres land.

He left an additional 1.7 acres of land and shares in Symolink Limited to Wangui and her children. Wangu and her children also got shares in Thorene Limited and 0.64 acres of land.

His daughter, Irene, inherited a property in Limuru town and her son, Simon Kanyingi, will take over his grandfather’s share in land in Kilimani and Lavington, Nairobi.

Kanyingi’s second wife, Wangu, inherited a house in South Africa, which should be shared equally between her and his sons Anthony Kuria and Thomas Kariuki.

He also shared out his money in various bank accounts. He directed that his car, a Toyota NZE, be sold to a third party. He prohibited his family from acquiring that car. Once the car is sold, the money ought to be shared equally between the two houses after expenses.

“I desire my cars be valued by a reputable firm and sold to a willing buyer with no option to purchase being given to family members and that proceeds thereof be treated as cash in hand and distributed among my two households equally,” he wrote.

He also owned a Range Rover but it was not valued in the court records.

Kanyingi, in his will written on January 25, 2013, also urged his children to obey their mothers. “I desire all my children will listen to and respect their mothers.”

The trust is expected to manage more than 100 acres of land in different parts of the country and shares in various companies.

Kanyingi had acquired shares in Barclays Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and NIC Bank. He also had shares in Centum Ltd, Olympia Capital, and Rea Vipingo.

He kept his money in four banks: KCB, Paramount, Equity, and Family.

Kanyingi worked as a mechanic at a Likoni Road-based Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit depot before becoming a power broker in central Kenya politics.

He later became an MP, between 2002 and 2007. He was known for his philanthropy, which acquired him the nickname Mr Money Bags. He would carry bundles of cash to harambees.