The family of late politician John Keen is embroiled in a massive dispute over the management and sharing of fortunes estimated to be Sh25 billion left behind by the tycoon.
Keen had vast investments, among them real estate, hotels, bank deposits, prime land across Kenya and government bonds.
The man left behind three wives with twelve children and other children out of wedlock who are now all fighting in court to be included in the estate.
Supreme Court judge Isaac Lenaola, Keen’s wife Rosemary Sanau and their daughter Pamela Soila are now running the vast empire as administrators managing the properties as trustees and executors of the will.
During the petition, Soila factor emerged raising eyebrows in the dispute. In her affidavit in support of the letters of grant petition filed in February 2017, Soila informed the court that she assumed the name Huubers when she got married and confirmed that Pamela Soila Keen named in the said will and Pamela Soila Keen Huubers is one and the same person. The matter is, however, is being refuted by other parties.
Keen’s will reads, “I declare that without prejudice to and withstanding the provisions hereinbefore contained my trustees shall have and enjoy all the powers, authority and discretion conferred upon executors or trustees by law,”.
Three children unanimously want the trustees kicked out. They say that the trustees who are also the signatories of the bank accounts are unable to account for more Sh700 million.
They say that the trustees want to sell pieces of land in Karen and Ongata Rongai without informing the other members of the family. He also wants the family to be provided with the audited accounts of Sh700 million and bank statements. The money according to them cannot be traced from the account.
Keen had shares in Safaricom Ltd (659,880), Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya (11,877,840) and Kenya Commercial Bank (53,000,000).
To honour his children and grandchildren, he left the 11,877,840 shares to those unable to pay for their medical expenses and other necessities of life.
Keen died at the Aga Khan Hospital on December 25 last year, leaving a valid will dated December 2, 2015, that was drawn by Maina Wachira and Company Advocates.
He served as an assistant minister for agriculture and member of parliament for Kajiado North Constituency from 1969 to 1979. In 1991 together with Mwai Kibaki, he founded the Democratic Party, for which he served as secretary-general
