Evil plot: How Cate Waruguru snatched husband, threw wife and children out

Former Kirinyaga Chamber of Commerce Chair Peter Waweru with former Laikipia Woman Rep Cate Waruguru. [Courtesy] Cate Waruguru, former Laikipia Woman Representative, is at the centre of a storm after a High Court judgement exposed how she lured a wealthy tycoon into a love affair, convincing him to divorce his wife, and orchestrating a scheme that led to the transfer of his multi-million shilling properties into a company linked to her, disinheriting the man's spouse and three children. According to court documents, the once-happy marriage of Peter Njogu Waweru, former Chairman of the Kirinyaga County Chamber of Commerce, and his wife Zipporah Njoki Kangara began to crumble after Waruguru entered the picture in 2020. Witness testimony tendered in court reveals that Waruguru allegedly did more than fall in love with Waweru. She is accused of orchestrating a divorce, and convincing Waweru to secretly transfer six prime properties in Mombasa and Nairobi, leaving his wife of over a decade and three young daughters in the cold. And in one bizarre episode, Waruguru allegedly stormed the family's matrimonial home, sprinkling some liquid on the floor and declaring she was "casting out demons" in an attempt to drive her rival out. Matrimonial house The estranged wife described the humiliating ordeal as both "spiritual manipulation and psychological warfare," telling the court that what followed was not just the loss of her husband but also the stripping away of assets that were meant to secure the future of her children. The tycoon, under what the wife's lawyers described as "undue influence," went on to transfer several prime properties, including a lavish matrimonial house in Bamburi, to Rock & Pure Ltd, a company in which Waruguru reportedly holds a controlling 70 per cent stake and Waweru 30 per cent. By the time the dust settled, the first family had been locked out of the wealth they once called their own. The Mombasa High Court, in its September 17, 2025, ruling, laid bare the elaborate scheme, noting that the transfers were irregular and left Njoki and her children disinherited. When Njoki walked down the aisle at Rock City Gardens, Buruburu, in Nairobi, on November 20, 2010, she believed she was entering a marriage for life. Dressed in a flowing white gown, she pledged loyalty to Waweru before God, family, and friends. But 14 years later, the vows mean little. Today, Njoki stands stripped of her marriage by Waruguru and her property rights, and fighting for what she calls the future of her children that was stolen by a politician with greed masked as love. At the centre of the battle are six prime properties, beachfront plots in Mombasa's Bamburi and Utange areas, and a parcel in Nairobi, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions. Court filings show the properties include CR43865 - Utange, Bamburi (matrimonial home), CR43991, CR43992, CR44515, CR44516 all coastal parcels, and Nairobi/Block 83/672. In her testimony before the court, Njoki stated that at the time of the celebration of the marriage, the properties had not been purchased, and the couple lived together at VOK in Mombasa The couple, after acquiring the properties in 2014, built a lavish matrimonial home on LR No. 43865 in Utange, Bamburi, with Njoki telling the court she personally oversaw its construction. "I supervised the construction, did the interior design, and even went to China to buy materials. I made both monetary and non-monetary contributions," she told the court. The mother of three explained that her contributions included a loan, personal savings from her job at the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and dividends from her company, Sunrise Investments Ltd. She said the home was their sanctuary, and the adjacent properties, CR43991, CR43992, CR44515, and CR44516, were part of their family investment portfolio. But in 2021, Njoki discovered that all the properties had been transferred without her knowledge to Rock & Pure Ltd, a company incorporated just months earlier in June 2020, with Waruguru holding the majority shares. "I did not give any spousal consent in respect of the said transfers. The transfers were fraudulent and meant to lock me and my children out," Njoki maintained. The estranged wife also testified that after Waruguru strayed into their marriage, Waweru's behaviour changed drastically. He grew distant, abandoned the family, and became hostile, even assaulting her. She told the court that since Waweru left, she had been solely responsible for the upkeep of their children. By 2021, the couple's marriage had collapsed. A divorce decree was issued in Divorce Cause No. 145 of 2021, ending an 11-year union. Following the divorce, she also filed a children's case at Tononoka Children's Court, which currently has a pending appeal. Njoki, in her testimony in court, further tendered evidence of intimidation by Waruguru, recounting a chilling incident when the former MP allegedly visited their matrimonial home. Cate Waruguru making her remarks at Bomas Of Kenya on 21st March 2022,during Safina party National delegates convention(NDC).[Edward Kiplimo,Standard] Secret transfer "The fourth respondent (Waruguru) intimidated me by spilling liquids in our home when she visited in the company of the third respondent (Waweru), while saying that she was casting out demons," Njoki testified while accusing her ex-husband of having assaulted her. Her lawyers, Derrick Odhiambo & Company Advocates, argued that the scheme was a calculated attempt to dispossess her. Evidence adduced in court shows that the multi-million shilling properties had a caution registered by Njoki. However, with the influence of Waruguru, the same were secretly and fraudulently transferred by Waweru to Rock & Pure Limited, without the wife's knowledge. In a bid to conceal the transactions and deny Njoki access, the properties were allegedly sold to Patricia Nyambura, who purchased them from Rock & Pure. "The transfers were done secretly despite a caution on the titles. The law under the Matrimonial Property Act and Land Registration Act demands spousal consent," Odhiambo submitted. Waweru, however, dismissed his ex-wife's claims. Although admitting in court to transferring the properties, he insisted they were never matrimonial. "The Utange home is not matrimonial. Had it been, I would have registered her as co-owner, something I didn't do," he testified, maintaining the properties were solely purchased by him, adding that they were later sold to a third party. "The properties are now in the name of Patricia Nyambura, who purchased them from Rock & Pure. Spousal consent was unnecessary since the property was mine," Waweru said. He portrayed Waruguru not as a romantic partner but merely a "business partner," denying allegations of collusion. Represented by their lawyer Obonyo, Waweru and Waruguru argued that Njoki had failed to prove any financial contribution. "Her testimony was inconsistent. She wants to enrich herself without evidence of direct contribution," Obonyo submitted But Njoki's legal team argued that all properties acquired during coverture must be treated as matrimonial, whether or not her name was on the title. They relied on Section 2 of the Matrimonial Property Act, which defines contribution to include domestic work, childcare, companionship, and management of family business. "The spousal consent should have been obtained before the transfers. Failure to do so rendered the transfers unlawful, null and void," Odhiambo argued. On the other hand, Obonyo, dismissed Kangara's case as speculative. After weighing the testimonies and submissions, Justice Gregory Mutai faulted the transfers, finding that Njoki's account was credible and terming the scheme by Waruguru and Waweru fraudulent. He noted that Rock & Pure Ltd was incorporated in June 2020, with Waruguru holding a 70 per cent stake and Waweru 30 per cent, and that the transfers were executed in April 2021, despite a caution lodged by Njoki in November 2020. "The transfer to the first respondent (Waruguru's firm) appears to have been a clever ruse to put the properties beyond the reach of Njoki," ruled Justice Mutai. Spousal consent The judge declared the transactions by Waruguru and Waweru fraudulent, null and void, and of no effect. He held that Njoki had made both monetary and non-monetary contributions, including homemaking, childcare, and supporting the family business, Sunrise Investments. "Since the court cannot establish the exact contribution of each spouse, the correct approach is to find that each spouse is entitled to 50 per cent of the same. Equality is equity," he said. The judge also emphasised that spousal consent is an overriding legal requirement under Section 28 of the Land Registration Act. In his judgment, Justice Mutai declared the transfers of the five Mombasa properties and a Nairobi parcel fraudulent, null and void, and of no effect. "Spousal consent is required before a spouse can sell a matrimonial property. In the absence of such consent, the sale is null and void," the judge stated. He noted that, despite the caution placed by Njoki, it was lifted unprocedurally. She had never removed the caution, nor had the court ordered its removal, and neither had it been withdrawn following a formal demand to the cautioner. "Under the circumstances, I find and hold that the suit properties, that is to say, CR 43865, CR 439991, CR 43992, CR 44515, CR 44516, and Title No Nairobi/Block 83/672, are matrimonial properties," stated the Judge. Justice Mutai also condemned the Mombasa Land Registrar, noting that the office had clearly failed in its duties and permitted fraud to occur. He ruled that the Registrar of Lands must now take responsibility by restoring the titles of the said properties to Waweru, and with his ex-wife Njoki's interest duly noted. Given that the couple is divorced, the court further ordered that the properties be valued within 60 days and sold by public auction within 30 days thereafter, and the proceeds shared equally on a 50:50 basis between Njoki and Waweru. Chase after me "Since the claimant (Njoki) and the third respondent are no longer spouses, I order that the properties be valued within 60 days of the date hereof. The property shall be sold by way of public auction within 30 days thereafter. The proceeds shall be shared 50:50 between the claimant and the third respondent," the judge ordered Emphasizing the principle of matrimonial property law, Justice Mutai noted that spousal consent is a mandatory requirement before one spouse can sell a matrimonial property, and in its absence, any such sale is illegal. When the husband-snatching allegations first emerged in 2021, Waruguru denied the claims. "I am not a husband snatcher. Mimi hukatiwa sikatiani (I am chased, I don't chase). So please ask your men why they chase after me," she said. She added: "The truth of the matter is Peter Waweru is not new to me. He is my childhood friend. Alinikatia na nikakubali. He is my man. Mali safi." Waruguru also aimed a subtle dig at Waweru's ex-wife saying: "These women who are complaining should do their homework well on their men and check around if there are areas of improvement that probably they need to work on if they need to keep them."

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