Eight years after his death, Jacob Juma’s two widows are still fighting over the ownership of his house in Westlands.
Miriam Wairimu and Lydia Tabuke are fighting over who is supposed to own the house left behind by the businessman.
Tabuke, who revealed that she is currently jobless and unable to pay rent. She claims that she is the one supposed to live in the house but her efforts to move into the home in Westlands have remained futile as her belongings were thrown out of the house by her fellow widow and her workers arrested.
“My children need a roof over their heads and you are throwing me out? I had an accident and haven’t been able to work and was unable to pay the rent. But this house was vacant, and my lawyer advised me to move in, but I have been thrown out,” she said.
On her part, Wairimu has been fighting for custody of the house for years since moving out in 2011. Wairimu, who has been living in Karen, argues that Tabuke should not move in until the case she filed in court is resolved and a judgment issued.
“As we wait for the conclusion of the succession case, let’s be patient and wait for the ruling, then we will know what happens with the property,” Wairimu argued.
The legal battle for the house began when another woman, Jane Wanja, demanded the property, alleging that Juma had failed to pay her debt.
Wanja moved into the house and filed a case in court to fight for custody. However, a court ruling in August 2024 went against her, forcing her to move out.
The house has since been under the care of workers, but now Tabuke wants to move in. The case concerning the house is scheduled for a ruling in February 2025.
This is not the first property owned by the late businessman to be contested. In July 2024, Wairimu lost a bid to block her eviction from a contested Ksh1.3 billion property in Loresho.
The contested properties include land registered in the late husband’s name in an allotment letter dated 1 March 1992 and a grant registered on 16 August 1994.
On 6 May 2016, the body of Kenyan businessman Jacob Juma was found lying in a pool of blood on Ngong Road in Nairobi.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE