THE GACHAGUA'S FORGED WILL ROW.

The petition of the family of late Nyeri Governor James Nderitu Gachagua for President William Ruto to intervene in a long-running dispute over the administration of the governor’s estate, alleging that a will purporting to distribute his wealth was forged to deprive them of their rightful inheritance, has led to a political and legal showdown.

In a detailed letter dated March 23, 2026, submitted via the Office of the Attorney General, the family outlined years of alleged fraud, forgery, intimidation, and unlawful interference, including manipulation of succession processes, irregular asset transfers, and the use of proxies to misappropriate funds.
The petition, signed by Margaret Nyokabi Nderitu, her children, and other close relatives, seeks an independent investigation, restitution of properties such as Olive Gardens and Vipingo Beach Resort, and protection from further coercion.

The family highlighted inconsistencies in the contested will, noting that it bears the inscription “Draft Last Will and Testament.” They argue that, under Kenyan law, a draft cannot constitute a valid will. They further claim that the late governor, who was critically ill with metastatic pancreatic cancer and bedridden at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, could not have read, written, or comprehended legal documents at the time.

“He was unable to see, let alone write or comprehend any legal document… the alleged will is diametrically inconsistent with medical reality,” the petition states.
The family also alleges that a close relative orchestrated a scheme to disinherit rightful beneficiaries through proxies, coercion, and irregular property transfers.

In response, the former DP Gachagua , seemingly agitated, rejected the family’s appeal, asserting that succession matters are private and should be handled in court.

“The law of succession is not a matter for the President of Kenya… Family matters are solved by families, not the President,” he said. Gachagua maintained that a comprehensive will was prepared by the late governor and lawfully administered through the courts in 2018, with all assets sold, debts cleared, and proceeds distributed among 21 beneficiaries.

Gachagua described the recent claims as politically motivated and questioned why other beneficiaries, besides the first widow, have not raised objections.

On March 30, 2026, President Ruto publicly defended the Nderitu family after a Palm Sunday church service in Naivasha, vowing to pursue justice for the bereaved.
“You can carry on with the insults, but what belongs to orphans and widows must be returned. There is no getting away with that,” Ruto said. “That hotel in Nairobi, the property in Kilifi, and other assets taken from the bereaved family must be returned. We will defend them, even before God. Nobody will ill-treat them.”

The controversy reignited following remarks by President Ruto during a public rally in Western Kenya on March 17, when he accused his former deputy of forgery and misappropriation of the deceased family’s inheritance.

The dispute into the political arena, particularly during the 2024 impeachment proceedings of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, when the will became a focal point. Critics claimed Gachagua used his late brother’s estate to shield himself from scrutiny and consolidate political advantage.

MP Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi) said, “It’s easy to hide with the dead because the dead can’t come to give evidence… the DP hasn’t told Kenyans that he bought the properties through coercion.”

Governor James Orengo (Siaya) also claimed that Gachagua accessed the late governor’s accounts immediately after his death, using the funds to acquire prime properties. “Withdrawals from the late governor’s accounts began on the very day of his death,” Orengo said, describing what he called irregular access and manipulation of the estate.

The case highlights systemic challenges in Kenya’s legal framework for inheritance disputes, particularly where contested wills, alleged fraud, and political influence intersect.

The Nderitu Gachagua family says unresolved irregularities have caused financial hardship and emotional distress, and they hope presidential attention, along with an independent investigation, will restore justice, dignity, and closure.

The late Nderitu Gachagua, Nyeri County’s first governor, died in a road accident, but the controversy over his estate continues to dominate national attention as legal, political, and familial claims collide.