The Kenyatta family is now locked in a property tussle after Udi Gecaga, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s brother-in-law moved to court suing his stepmother over control of Gateway Insurance.
Udi married Uhuru’s elder sister, Jeni Wambui and together they had a son, Jomo Gecaga who works at State House as Uhuru’s personal assistant.
Gecaga, wants the court to compel his stepmother, Margaret Gacigi Gecaga to allow him to access Sh57.6 million held in a joint account at the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
Udi, a former chairman of Lonhro East Africa in the case filed under a certificate of urgency want the court to give direction on the matter citing that his stepmother is not complying with a ruling by the Court Of Appeal to release the money, reports Business Daily.
The Court of Appeal had ruled that 3.2 million shares under his father, Bethuel Gecaga who died in 2016 were not part of their matrimonial property thus, Margaret had no direct claim to the shares reportedly transferred to Quinvest Limited in 2012.
In his justification, Udi in court papers stated that “The plaintiff has in defiance of the terms of the consent order refused to agree to the release of the funds. It is in the interest of justice that an order be made for release of the funds to the 2nd [Udi] and 3rd [Quinvest Limited] defendants.”
Margaret, however, maintains that the transfer of the shares to Quinvest Limited where Udi has an interest in was illegal because she was part of the insurance stake by being married to Bethuel.
The case set to be heard before Justice Mary Kasango on June 4 will lift the lid on the Bethuel’s wealth which could be contested as well.
Bethuel had accumulated his wealth through real estate, land, farms and high stakes in blue-chip companies after working top positions as the chairman of Kenya Airways, Nation Media Group, BAT among others.
Udi is also father to Uhuru’s niece, Nana Gecaga who is the CEO of KICC.
