Chweya Claims Co-Wives Threatened Her After Marriage to Late Minister Simeon Nyachae

Margaret Chweya, who claims to be one of the wives of the late former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae, has told a Nairobi court that she faced threats from her co-wives after they discovered her marriage to the late politician

Through court filings, Chweya said she was married to Nyachae under Gusii customary law and argued that she and her children are entitled to an equal share of his vast estate under Sections 26 and 29 of the Law of Succession Act

She alleged that following the discovery of her marriage, her co-wives threatened her life, with some even attempting to poison her, forcing her to relocate to the United States

While abroad, she claimed Nyachae continued to support her and their children, purchasing property in Loresho, Nairobi, and sending funds for their upkeep

Represented by lawyer Danstan Omari, Chweya further stated that she helped care for Nyachae during his illness and was recognized as part of the family during his burial

She dismissed allegations that she was previously married as “frivolous and aimed at disenfranchising” her and her children

However, Charles Nyachae, one of the late minister’s sons, alongside other family representatives, has dismissed her petition, terming it legally defective and filed too late, as probate for the estate was granted in May 2022

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The respondents also challenged the legitimacy of Chweya’s children, noting that one of them, Patricia Chweya, admitted in court that Nyachae was not her father and that certain documents linking her to the estate were forged

The court will now determine whether Margaret Chweya and her children qualify as dependents under the Law of Succession Act and if they are entitled to a portion of the late minister’s multi-billion-shilling estate

Writer : Mweru Mbugua