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Post Reply: Forgery Claims as Ex-Minister John Keen's Heirs Battle Over Kshs.13 Billion Empire

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on May 22, 2025, 8:20 pm</div><div id="pl-5976"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-5976-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-5976-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-5976-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">A bitter succession dispute over the Kshs13 billion estate of the late John Keen, a prominent Kenyan politician and former Assistant Minister for Agriculture, has intensified, with allegations of forgery and misconduct rocking the family. Victoria Naishorua Keen, the firstborn daughter of the late Kajiado North MP, has accused the executors of her father’s will, including Supreme Court Justice Isaac Lenaola, of mishandling the estate and claims the will itself is a forgery. The case, set to be heard on 15th October 2025, has drawn significant attention due to the vast wealth involved and the high-profile figures entangled in the legal battle.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">John Keen, who passed away on 25th December 2016, at the age of 88, was a towering figure in Kenyan politics, serving as an Assistant Minister in the Office of the President during President Daniel arap Moi’s regime and as the MP for Kajiado North from 1969 to 1979. Known for his business acumen, Keen amassed a fortune estimated at over Kshs. h13 billion, comprising prime real estate in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kilifi counties, ownership of the Maasai Lodge, shares in blue-chip companies such as Safaricom (659,880 shares), Standard Chartered Bank Kenya (11,877,840 shares), and Kenya Commercial Bank (53,000,000 shares), and substantial cash reserves in bank accounts. At the time of his death, Keen had no recorded debts, cementing his status as one of Kenya’s wealthiest individuals. Keen, a polygamous patriarch, left behind four widows—Gladwell Wairimu, Mary Njeri, Rosemary Sanau, and Jane Wamuyu—and at least 14 children. His will, dated 2nd December 2015, appointed Supreme Court Justice Isaac Lenaola, Keen’s third wife Rosemary Sanau, and his daughter Pamela Soila Keen (from his second wife, Mary) as executors to administer the estate. The will outlined specific bequests, including provisions for medical expenses, education, and business ventures for his children and grandchildren, as well as a directive to preserve 270 acres in Kajiado County for wildlife conservation and 125 acres for an educational institute.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The heart of the dispute lies in Victoria Naishorua Keen’s claim that the will is a forgery. Represented by lawyer Philip Murgor, Victoria has filed an application at the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, seeking to declare that her father died intestate—without a valid will—and to have the estate distributed under intestacy laws or an alternative formula. She argues that Keen lacked the physical and mental capacity to execute the will due to his advanced age and health issues, including terminal Parkinson’s disease, severe sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory failure, right-sided pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and severe aortic stenosis, as noted in his death certificate dated 29th December 2016. Victoria’s claims are supported by a report from Spectral Forensic Services, a private firm she hired, which analyzed Keen’s signatures on various documents. The report, authored by Martin Papa, concluded that the signature on the December 2015 will does not match Keen’s known signatures, suggesting forgery. Victoria further alleges that the distribution outlined in the will is inconsistent with her father’s behavior in his final days and accuses the executors of foul play and intermeddling with the estate during the ongoing succession case.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The involvement of Supreme Court Justice Isaac Lenaola, a close friend of Keen, has added complexity to the case. Victoria argues that Lenaola’s appointment as an executor creates a conflict of interest, particularly given his alleged role in receiving a land transfer worth Kshs. 1.487 billion from Keen’s estate, facilitated by Maina Wachira &amp; Company Advocates. Maina Wachira, the law firm that drafted the will, was headed by the late Maina Wachira, who died in 2021. Victoria has now joined Wachira’s executors, Nguru Muregi Wachira and Murage Mwangi Wachira, in her application, demanding they produce documents related to Keen’s legal affairs and post-death asset transfers. Lenaola resigned as an executor in 2017, leaving Rosemary Sanau and Pamela Soila as the remaining executors. However, Victoria’s accusations of misconduct extend to all named executors, claiming they have failed to provide transparent accounts of the estate’s management, as required by Section 83 of the Law of Succession Act. She further alleges that the executors have wrongfully entered into business ventures and transferred assets without the consent of all beneficiaries.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The succession battle has been ongoing since Keen’s death, with multiple applications filed by family members. In February 2017, the executors petitioned for probate of the will, which was granted by High Court Judge Rosemary Ougo on 4th April 2017. However, the grant has not been confirmed, delaying the final distribution of the estate. In August 2021, Justice Aggrey Muchelule ordered Keen’s five children—Antony Simel, Pamela Soila, Bernard Olonana, Somoire Keen, and Rosemary Sanau—to file a full inventory of the estate within 60 days, following a request by Keen’s son, Edward Meitamei, for transparency on assets and liabilities. In July 2025, the Court of Appeal dismissed Victoria’s application to reverse a High Court decision to proceed with the will’s distribution, prompting her to escalate her fight with the forgery claims. The upcoming hearing on 15th October will be a critical juncture, as the court will evaluate the forensic evidence and decide whether to void the will.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Keen’s polygamous family structure has fueled tensions, with his four widows and 14 children vying for control of the estate. Gladwell Wairimu and Mary Njeri, biological sisters, bore Keen six and five children, respectively, while Rosemary Sanau had two, and Jane Wamuyu had one. The will reportedly favored certain beneficiaries based on their “love and respect” toward Keen, with rewards ranging from Kshs. 5 million to Kshs. 15 million. It also included provisions for Keen’s siblings, a house help, and a nanny, and imposed a strict clause that any beneficiary challenging the will would forfeit their inheritance. These conditions have sparked accusations of unfairness, with Victoria and other heirs arguing that the will does not reflect Keen’s true intentions. Edward Meitamei and his daughter Zola Sinet have also filed applications for funds from the estate to cover educational expenses, which were dismissed by the court, further highlighting the contentious nature of the dispute.</p>
<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The Keen estate battle underscores the challenges of managing large estates in polygamous families, a common issue in Kenya’s succession disputes. The case also raises questions about the integrity of estate planning and the role of high-profile figures, such as Justice Lenaola, in private legal matters. The allegations of forgery and asset mismanagement could set a precedent for how courts handle forensic evidence in succession cases. As the October 2025 hearing approaches, the Keen family’s saga continues to captivate public attention, with many watching to see whether Victoria’s claims will upend the distribution of one of Kenya’s largest estates. The outcome could redefine the legacy of John Keen, a man whose wealth and influence continue to shape his family’s future nearly a decade after his death.</p>
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