Kirima unwilling to settle property dispute with son out of court

By Nancy Akinyi

Former Starehe MP Gerishon Kirima says he is not ready for out of court negotiations in a property dispute pitting him against his son.

Through his advocate, Mr Kirima told Justice Muga Apondi he did not understand why his son John Wanjau was keen on settling the matter out of court.

"He is the one who dragged my client to court and since we are now in court let the court decide the matter," said his advocate.

Mr Wanjau told court that owing to the delicate nature of the suit, it was respectable that they settle it amicably outside court.

Through his advocate, Wanjau told court third parties were frustrating his efforts to reach his father, blocking all avenues for negotiations.

Justice Apondi, who could not understand how a son was unable to reach his father, maintained the court could only facilitate negotiations, but could not force parties to negotiate.

He said the court had given the parties more than enough time to settle the matter amicably, but it seemed all was in vain.

Wanjau moved to court last May seeking to be enjoined in the management of his father’s estate.

In the case, he maintained his father was his business partner in Kirima & Sons, which trades as land and estate agents, auctioneers and general merchants.

He accused his father of locking him out of the partnership and instead delegating responsibilities of running the partnership and management to third parties who were mismanaging the same.

Opposed move

He argued he wanted to be enjoined in the partnership because his father was old, demented, diabetic, and suffers from prostate cancer and, therefore, not fit to manage the properties in question.

But his father has opposed the move, saying he was mentally fit and in control of his actions regarding the property. He has dismissed claims of partnership between him and his son.

The case will be heard on July 27.