Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-01 06:15:55
The family of the late Kenyan PepsiCo executive, William Mulwa Mutilangi, is embroiled in a legal battle over the multimillion dollar estate he left behind. Edward Nzesya Mutilangi, William’s younger brother, has filed a petition in New York to be declared the administrator of his estate, which is estimated to be worth at least Sh500 million (approximately $500,000) in Kenya, among other assets in the United States.
The dispute began when a Tanzanian national named Bakari Kisalu Malanda claimed to be William Mulwa’s son, authorizing the cremation of his body and attempting to acquire his assets in Nairobi and New York. This claim has prompted Edward Nzesya, along with his other surviving siblings, to challenge Bakari’s paternity and his right to the estate.
The estate, which includes a townhouse in Peekskill township, a 2017 BMV sports utility vehicle, a life insurance policy, employee death benefits, and several registered patents with PepsiCo in the US, faces potential valuation challenges due to incomplete tax documents and spoliation of property. A stand-in estimate of $500,000 for the U.S. assets has not yet been finalized, and further valuation of William’s assets in Kenya is still pending.
Edward Mutilangi, acting through his New York-based lawyer Japheth Matemu, has been diligently pursuing legal action to secure his brother’s estate, working with an accountant and planning to engage a private investigator, while also reaching out to PepsiCo for relevant information. While the value of William’s estate in the U.S. stands at a tentative $500,000, other documents and property are potentially subject to valuation and determination.
The family’s challenge is complicated by Bakari’s claim that William Mulwa had executed a will leaving his entire estate to him, backed by a power of attorney executed through a law firm in New Jersey. This has led to tensions between the two parties, with the dispute not resolved, and the probate hearing yet to be scheduled.
The matter is further complicated by attempts to prevent any potential property theft, with reports of the late William’s house being ransacked. Mr. Matemu has emphasized the need for the proper valuation of all assets and protections of the late William’s property against any potential threat.
Resolving the claims over William Mulwa’s estate is likely to take a considerable amount of time due to the complex nature of the case and the involvement of foreign parties. With no known “last will and testament”, this estate battle is likely to be a protracted legal process that may take several months or even years to reach any resolution. While no date has been set for the probate hearing, the legal process requires Mr. Nzesya and his attorney to give proper notice to William’s surviving siblings before any actions are taken.
The sheer complexity of the case, along with the potential loss of important property, highlights the challenges facing the Mutilangi family as they seek to properly establish the administration of William Mulwa’s estate amidst these contentious and uncertain claims.
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