John Keen’s family still feuding over Ksh.13B empire 7 years after his death

The dispute over the management and sharing of veteran politician John Keen’s multi-billion vast empire has intensified seven years after he died.

This is after a section of the families of Keen’s second and third wives on Wednesday moved to subdivide a parcel of land in Karen by erecting a wall.

This is a move that the family of the first wife, Gladwell Wairimu, faulted as a conspiracy to kick them out.

The family of the late politician has been embroiled in a long legal tussle over the estate estimated to be worth Ksh.13 billion. This despite a detailed will that Keen wrote before he died in 2015.

Eva Keen, John Keen’s daughter, said: “These people were sent by goons to destroy our property because of the court case which we had filed. They’ve been sent by our step-brothers and sisters.”

But in a blame game, the families of the second and third wives disputed the claims.

Benard Keen, John Keen’s son, stated: “Emotions can get carried away, and then you say Okay, if they don’t want to be with us, then everybody should stay in their plot. Why share what you don’t want?”

Eva Keen added: “We’re seeking at least some part of the property, but they want all the property.”

The family of the first wife Gladwell Wairimu have been accusing their step-mother Rosemary Sanau and their step-sister Pamela Soila in what they claim as a scheme to kick them out and own the entire Ksh.13 billion estate.

Eva Keen stated: “They’ve destroyed the fence, they’ve cut the electricity and taken out the pole...and they’ve cut the water...they might want to destroy the house come morning.”

Benard Keen however said: “The issue of the works going on there is a perimeter wall that is being built as a result of the action that they have taken against other family members.”

In the intrigues of the dispute, the children of the first wife Gladwell Wairimu filed a case in court against Pamela Soila Keen and Rosemary Keen, seeking ownership of the John Keen property that they claim was solely acquired by the late politician and their mother before she died in 2020.

Rosemary Sanau and Pamela Soila are the executors of the will left by John Keen before he died.

Eva Keen said: “They feel threatened by the court case, and that’s why they want to do this.”

Benard Keen chimed in: “Some matters are in court, others are not, others we solve ourselves...we hope that most matters will be solved at home, but some times some people jump the gun and go to court and others go to the press.”

Keen died in December 2016 and left behind a written will dated December 2, 2015. He appointed Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola, lawyer Maina Wachira, and his children Rosemary Sanau and Pamela Soila as the executors of the will.

Justice Lenaola resigned as an executor while lawyer Maina Wachira has since passed on.