In January, a local publication revealed that High Court sitting in Eldoret was told that Keiyo North MP James Murgor used a forged Will to bequeath himself the lion’s share of the multi-billion shilling estate, that his father, a former MP William Murgor left behind.
Lawyer Philip Murgor, who is representing the aggrieved siblings, told the court that the purported ‘Will’ allegedly left behind by the politician had been examined by officials from the national government and found to be a forgery.
The case which has dragged on for long and the High Court has also heard that the former powerful Rift Valley politician who is now deceased never discriminated among his children.
On 25th November, Ambrose Kiplagat Murgor and three others, told Justice Hellen Omondi that the contrary claim of being born out of wedlock was a scheme to lock them out of the MP’s vast estate.
“My late father never disowned me or my siblings,” Kiplagat told the court.
The court further heard that the four – Kiplagat, Oscar Murgor, Sharon Murgor and Faith Murgor – who are children of the former MP’s fourth wife Anna Kimoi, were brought up with the other children.
“We were raised together with the other siblings from the different houses. I was in school with my two brothers, Collins and Kenneth, in the same primary school, all along living as brothers,” he added.
In January, Dr James Murgor, who is the current Keiyo North MP and a contender to the vast estate was put to task during cross-examination to explain the authenticity of the purported Will under which he was bequeathed a Sh400 million prime plot in Eldoret town.
The court was treated to drama when James stated that he has never been the head of the family after the death of their father, who was a long-serving Keiyo Central MP during the Kanu era.
The court was taken aback when the MP told Justice Hellen Omondi that he was only the head of his family that includes his wife, children and mother.
Despite a testimony that the siblings grew up together without discrimination from the father, the MP has severally denied knowing Kiplagat and his three siblings Oscar, Sheila and Faith Murgor before the court.
Kiplagat told the court that he campaigned for his brother 3 times in elections.
“I campaigned for him in three elections, and he always introduced me as his brother. When my mother was sick, I was in contact with the MP, who even helped in paying the hospital bill,” he said.
This case started when Enid Cheptanui, their elder sister filed it against the MP for excluding them from her and her siblings, from having a piece of their father’s Sh1.4 billion estate.
While testifying in the succession dispute, James denied knowing Kiplagat and his three siblings Oscar, Sheila and Faith Murgor.
In January, the MP who is the Will executioner told the court it was against the Keiyo culture to include girls in the distribution of the family property.
He claimed he had allocated three sisters two acres each as part of the distribution of their late father’s wealth on condition that they should not build on it, sell to outsiders but only carry out farming activities.
William Murgor was married to five wives ad sired 29 children.
The widows are Soti Murgor, Rosa Kimoi Murgor, Rosaline Murgor, Anne Murgor and Philemona Murgor.
The deceased, popularly known as ‘filimbi’ (whistler), left behind a vast estate that comprises several acres of agricultural land, and prime commercial and rental plots in Eldoret and Iten towns respectively.
Some of the property that are at the centre of the legal battle include a Sh400 million commercial plot in Eldoret town, and a Sh250 million plot in Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Enid Murgor has sued the MP on behalf of other siblings for denying them part of the multi-billion shilling wealth left behind by their father, who died in 2006 aged 87.
