How Mombasa divorce case was settled out of court

One of the residences worth Sh100 million of Tanzanian tycoon Mohamed Bakhresa at Nyali in Mombasa.This was among the properties worth Sh130 million that his former Kenyan wife Nasra Mohamed was fighting over in court for its distribution. However, the parties signed an agreement to share the properties. (PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/ STANDARD)

Tanzanian tycoon Mohamed Salim Bakhressa divorced his wife of four years, Nasra Abdulwahab Ahmed, five years ago in Mombasa after he accused her of misusing Sh452 million he sent her to bank over time in the family account.

The couple were divorced in the Kadhi Court in Mombasa after Bakhressa accused her of swindling him while he was abroad on a business trip. According to Civil Suit 192 of 2006 filed by Bakhressa seeking orders to take some property following the divorce at the Mombasa High Court, the tycoon claimed Nasra and her brother stole his title deeds, sale agreements, bank statements and files with vital information with intent to defraud.

Bakhressa said Nasra had been his secretary before they fell in love and married, and that her brother Hussein later became his employee. The case dragged on for years before the parties agreed to settle out of court, leading to one of the most expensive property split-and-share-out deals in Kenya. The two shared property and money equivalent to Sh1 billion equally in a final settlement late in 2011.

Bakhressa, who had business interests in the food, milling and beverage sectors, and also owns a football team, is a native of Zanzibar. He also owns a chain of factories plus transport and housing properties in Kenya, Uganda and other African nations.

According to documents, Nasra contested Bakhressa's application in the High Court. In the final settlement, she took possession of posh houses in Nyali, residential flats in various parts of the town and two motorboats she claimed were bought during the marriage.

Nasra also declared interest in other property including five cars and Sh71 million in the bank.

Her lawyer, Japhet Asige, said his client had agreed to settle the matter out of court by sharing out some of the property. Bakhressa's lawyers led by Mohamed Balala agreed to the proposal and they split the property in half.