Winstone Chiseremi

 @Wchiseremi

Tempers flared during the hearing of a succession case in which the family of the former Keiyo North MP William Murgor is fighting over the sharing of his estate worth about Sh2 billion.

The court battle, pitting the current area MP James Murgor against some of his sisters and stepbrothers, resumed yesterday at the High Court. 

In a case filed by Enit Murgor on behalf of her siblings, she has accused the MP of sidelining them in the distribution of their late father’s vast estate that is spread in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.

James, who was being crossed examined by the complainant’s lawyer Philip Murgor, was put to task to explain how he bequeathed himself the lion’s share of the estate at the expense of his siblings.

An agitated James, however, told Philip to stop referring to him as “honourable MP” during the exercise.

“Please stop referring to me as Honourable MP. Just refer me as James lest you make me angry,” said James.

Justice Hellen Omondi, who was hearing the matter, had to caution the MP to keep his emotions in check. “Dr Murgor, you must accept that you are an elected Member of Parliament and there is no foul in being referred to that title by the complainant’s lawyer,” said the judge.

The court heard that the documents and signatures used by the MP to apportion himself a chunk of the wealth were forged. James was hard pressed to produce any documentary evidence giving him the power of attorney over the disputed property.

The MP was also at pains to explain to the court how he allocated himself 70 acres of prime agricultural land in Keiyo North sub-county. 

However, the lawmaker claimed some of the people claiming to be his siblings were blocked from inheriting  his father’s estate in line with the wishes of the deceased, as they were not his biological children.