In 1968, a seemingly insignificant Sh5 investment by Wakaba Njoroge, a bread delivery van driver, and his wife Esther Wanjiku, laid the foundation for what would become a life-changing windfall.
“Waira Kamau was the MP for Ruiru, he implored us to buy shares in a company called Githunguri Ranch, which he was leading. My husband, who was a driver, invested Sh5.” Wanjiku recalled.
Little did they know that their decision to buy shares in a company called Githunguri Ranch would lead to the acquisition of 1.4 acres of land, worth millions of shillings, decades later.
For years, life was ordinary for the Njoroge family.
Wakaba continued to work diligently as a driver while occasionally indulging in his love for alcohol.
As time passed, the heavy drinking began taking its toll on his health.
Sensing the approaching end of his days, Wakaba shared an eerie prophecy with his wife, foretelling a challenging future ahead for her.
In 1997, Wakaba succumbed to cardio-pulmonary arrest and stomach problems, leaving his family behind.
As per his wishes, he was buried at the farm next to the humble timber shack he called home for many years.
Little did anyone know that this plot of land would later be the epicenter of a family rift that would shatter relationships and leave their fortunes in jeopardy.
In 2007, a significant turn of events took place when engineers arrived to design the Eastern Bypass, a major infrastructure project.
As the earthmovers roared, they placed beacons on Wakaba’s land, revealing that part of his grave would be desecrated for the construction of the bypass.
Unbeknownst to them, the value of the land skyrocketed as land prices surged in the wake of the Thika Superhighway and the Eastern Bypass projects.
By 2011, the value of the land had multiplied exponentially, and the Njoroge family found themselves wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.
An 0.50-hectare parcel was subdivided into eight plots, each worth at least Sh1 million at the time. Today, a single plot is valued at over Sh25 million. Suddenly, the Njoroge family was worth millions, and their lives were about to change dramatically.
With newfound wealth came the potential for new opportunities, and Esther Wanjiku decided to share the fruits of their success with her five adult children: Nancy Njoki, Patrick Kamande, Dominic Njane, Jane Wanjiru, and Hanna Njambi.
Wanjiku intended to gift two of her sons, Kamande and Njane, one plot each, while her daughters would jointly own one plot along with her.
The remaining six plots were to be sold to finance a commercial building on a different plot.
However, the once-close-knit family found themselves entangled in a bitter feud over the property.
The six plots were secretly sold, and the commercial building was constructed in Kamande’s name.
Esther Wanjiku’s life took a tragic turn, and she now resides in a meager one-roomed shack in Kiandutu slums, Thika.
The heart of the dispute lies in the building, which was initially meant to be a source of income for the family.
Despite the completion of the building and the subsequent rental income of Sh130,000 per month, Esther Wanjiku claims to have never received any funds.
The accusations and counter-accusations have led to a complete breakdown in communication, and the family members now only interact through lawyers.
Kamande maintains that the building and the land belong to him, as he claims to have followed the instructions laid out in an affidavit signed by his mother.
On the other hand, Njane accuses Kamande of manipulating their mother to gain control over the property and excluding the rest of the family.
From the eight plots that once represented the family’s fortune, only one remains, housing the disputed building.
The rest of the land and the family that once owned it have all but disappeared.
