A contentious inheritance battle concerning the estate of the late Joseph Murori Mbochi intensified at the Githunguri Law Courts, where opposing families engaged in legal confrontation regarding the legitimacy and validity of a disputed will reportedly created shortly before the deceased’s passing.
The case, before Principal Magistrate Moses Wanjala, centers on allegations that the challenged will failed to include all rightful beneficiaries and may have been composed under suspicious circumstances while the deceased was gravely ill.
Attorneys for the challengers informed the court they were contesting the will’s legality, asserting that numerous significant matters had not been addressed in the document reportedly authored by the deceased retired teacher.
Thursday’s proceedings focused on witnesses supporting the will, whose testimonies concluded before the court scheduled the next stage of the case for November 13, 2026, when the challengers are scheduled to begin presenting their evidence.
The inheritance conflict places the deceased’s legally recognized widow, Tabitha Murori, against Lucy Njeri Murori, who is identified in the disputed will as another spouse and estate beneficiary.
During intense cross-examination sessions, attorneys opposing the will attempted to undermine Lucy Njeri’s assertions of a customary marriage to the deceased. Questions were raised about the procedure through which she allegedly changed her name to adopt the deceased’s surname despite lacking a marriage certificate.
Under questioning, Lucy acknowledged she could not recall all documents submitted during the name change process, stating the decision had primarily been influenced by the deceased himself.
The court also heard sharp exchanges over handwritten documents reportedly connected to family negotiations and property distribution. Attorneys representing the challengers questioned the authenticity of handwritten “minutes” presented before the court, with Lucy Njeri admitting she did not know who authored the documents.
The witness informed the court she had merely been informed the notes were written at their residence, but could not identify the author or verify the circumstances under which they were prepared.
Further examination emerged concerning a handwritten property list reportedly written in Kikuyu language and allegedly associated with the contested will. Attorneys challenging the document argued the deceased was highly educated and questioned why such an important record would appear in informal handwritten form rather than in a professionally prepared legal document.
The court also became involved in a discussion surrounding family lineage and naming traditions after attorneys questioned the absence of Kikuyu cultural naming patterns among some children associated with the union.
Additional controversy developed regarding paternity after the court heard allegations that birth certificates for two children connected to Lucy Njeri were reportedly obtained years after the children had already completed their education.
The challengers further contended the deceased had suffered a stroke and was critically ill during the period the will was reportedly drafted, raising serious questions about whether he possessed the mental and physical capacity to fully understand and approve the document’s contents.
Attorneys representing the opposing side also criticized the attorney said to have prepared the will, arguing that sufficient due diligence may not have been conducted regarding the deceased’s assets, dependents, and family structure before the document was finalized.
The hearing generated significant interest from family members and the public as both sides exchanged accusations over the contested will’s authenticity and the legitimacy of named beneficiaries.
The case is expected to continue on November 13, 2026, when the court will hear testimony from witnesses opposing the will in what is developing into an extended and highly contested inheritance battle.