The late President Daniel Torotich Arap Moi was indeed wealthy having accumulated many assets over the 35 years he was at the helm of Kenya’s leadership as both Vice president and President (he is Kenya longest serving president having been in office for 24 years and 11 years as VP).
After his death on 4th February 2020, it emerged that he had left behind a will on how his assets and properties would be distributed. The will was left behind to one Lawyer Zehrabanu Janmohamed who is the executrix and trustee.
In this article, we take a look at the story of Zehrabanu Janmohamed and how she became a trustee of Moi’s will.
Background
Zehrabanu is the daughter of Mohamed Taki Janmohamed and Khurshid Tejani Janmohamed. She was born in Kenya and grew up in the South C area of Nairobi.
She finished her ‘A’ level education in Kenya before proceeding to the University College of London in the United Kingdom to pursue her law degree. She later graduated in 1986 and started off her career as a Barrister at Law, Lincoln inn in 1987.
She later got married to a Pakistani man who lives in Dubai – the man named Mudassar Nazar is a former Pakistan National cricket team opening batsman and was famously known as the man with the golden arm.
Legal Career
After just a year of working at Lincoln inn, Zehrabanu Janmohamed landed back in Kenya in 1988 and joined a law firm named – Archer and Wilcock as an intern.
She was determined and focused on her career path and this made her climb the ranks to become a partner of the firm in 1993 and senior partner in 2002.
She currently practices law in the High court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as an advocate.
In November 2020, she was awarded the title of Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Kenya by ex-Chief Justice David Maraga joining the prestigious group with the likes of seasoned lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Passion
Zehrabanu is a huge lover of cricket having been influenced by her father when growing up as a child. Her passion for the sport led her to become an ardent supporter of Sir Ali Muslim Club (SAMC) where she became the first female member of the club.
In 2012, she was elected as the Chairperson of Cricket Kenya becoming the first lady in the world to hold such a position of a National Cricket Board.
She later became the first woman to lead a Continental Cricket Association after being elected as the Chairperson of Africa Cricket Association – a position she still holds to date.
Aside from sports, she is also passionate about helping the needy and giving back to the community. In 2020, she was awarded the ‘Mzalendo Award’ by President Uhuru Kenyatta for her Philanthropic actions of food distribution to over 30,000 families in Kenya during the peak of the pandemic.
Managing Moi’s Wealth
The late Mzee Moi left behind a will dated November 15, 2005 and had appointed Zehrabanu to manage his estates as executor and trustee of the will.
According to the will, she was directed to hold all the documents of his properties, investments and money in the bank accounts.
She was supposed to pay the funeral expenses and divide the rest of his wealth amongst his seven children.
On October 9th 2020, High Court judge Aggrey Muchelule gave the lawyer the go ahead to manage and distribute the properties of the late President Moi.
This is after she had filed an application seeking permission to execute the will as required by the law. Her application was granted after it was established that there was no one opposing the petition.
The properties which are estimated to be worth billions include the Standard Group Plc., Ngata flower farm, huge acres of land spread across the country and shares in different big companies among other investments.
Accused of mismanaging Moi’s wealth
Moi’s grandson Collins Kibet Toroitich Moi accused Zehrabanu Janmohamed of making attempts to disinherit him his share in the vast family wealth, according to court documents.
The eldest son of the late Jonathan Moi stated in court documents that his grandfather was worth over Sh 300 billion.
