Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-07 15:51:48
A woman who has been identified as the ex-lover of the late controversial brewer and Naivasha tycoon Fai Amario, also known as Peter Njoroge, will now receive a portion of his multimillion-dollar estate. This decision came after the court approved a consent by the majority of Amario’s children, recognizing Salome Wanjiku as one of the beneficiaries of his estate, which is valued at Sh760 million.
Justice Samuel Mohochi ruled against an application by one of Amario’s children, Marsha Dee Amario, who is a co-administrator to the estate, opposing the inclusion of Ms. Wanjiku as a beneficiary. Marsha Dee had argued that Wanjiku was not Amario’s legally recognized spouse but rather a girlfriend who had a child with him. She also protested the inclusion of another child, Sheila Wangare, claiming that her mother had remarried and Sheila was not Amario’s biological daughter.
In his ruling, Justice Mohochi dismissed these objections, stating that the court would side with the majority of the beneficiaries on the principle of the balance of convenience. He ruled that both Salome Wanjiku Mwangi and Debbie Jolly Amario are considered beneficiaries of the deceased estate.
The judge criticized Marsha Dee for failing to accommodate the views of the other majority parties and dragging the succession case with minor, non-exhaustive counter-proposals that do not address the immediate needs within the estate. According to the proposals adopted by the nine beneficiaries, Ms. Wanjiku will receive five percent of the estate.
Amario, a wealthy tycoon who passed away in 2010, was a winemaker and the founder of Fai Amarillo Ltd, an indigenous alcohol distillery. He left behind a multi-million-dollar estate that included properties such as a Winery worth Sh500 million, the Den hotel in Naivasha worth Sh94.75 million, and several other valuable properties.
The other nine beneficiaries of the estate, in addition to Salome Wanjiku, are Miki Ng’ang’a, Bernice Njeri, Debbie Jolly, James Kimani, Dee Marsha, Sheena Euston, Yuri Gilbert, Sheila Wangari, and a minor. As per the consent, each beneficiary will receive a specific percentage of the estate, with the majority parties receiving up to 11.85 percent and the minor receiving 6.05 percent.
The family has also proposed the sale of some properties for Sh56 million to cover legal expenses. Peter Amario’s life was filled with controversy, including a prison sentence for possession of unlicensed guns and suspicions of involvement in his wife’s disappearance. In 2004, he gained attention after publishing a newspaper advertisement seeking a wife.
Despite the controversy surrounding his life, Amario left behind a substantial estate that will now be divided among his beneficiaries, including Ms. Salome Wanjiku, who will receive a portion of his wealth after this court ruling.
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