Kanyotu widow cited in threat to murder relative

A widow of ex-spy chief James Kanyotu risks being charged for allegedly threatening to kill her step-son so as to disinherit him from his father’s estate in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Willy Kihara Kanyotu, son of the late Special Branch boss, has filed an application at a Nairobi court seeking to investigate the widow-Jane Gathoni Muraya over an alleged attempt to kill him.

Justice Margaret Muigai allowed Kihara’s plea and issued an order directing the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe the allegation.

“In light of the various complaints of threats to life to various members of Kanyotu’s family,  each of them shall file affidavits and serve to the relevant parties,” ruled Muigai.

Phone contact

The judge directed the DCI to investigate the source of a short text message and phone contact alleged to have been used in the murder threat message.

Muigai at the same time directed the DCI to provide security to threatened parties during court proceedings over Kanyotu’s estate.

A forensic examiner’s report on a letter allegedly sent to a hitman has identified Muraya as the author of the said letter. 

The letter has been filed in court as part of evidence in the case.

Kihara claims that his three step brothers have since died under mysterious circumstances. 

He wants police to hasten probe and those responsible charged in court to avoid further loss of lives.

According to Kihara, the attempt on his life is because of his fight in protecting the estate of his late father.

He says in his affidavit that to date, the estate has lost properties worth over Sh10 billion due to careless disposal by the said administrators to the detriment of other beneficiaries.

Kihara said the administrators have without a just cause, failed to pay him his fair share of the proceeds obtained after the disposal of one of the properties.

“I am also privy to the fact that some people  have been hired by one of the administrators of the estate to kill me for fighting for my rights as a beneficiary of my father’s estate,” said Kihara.

He said he has received several short text messages warning him to keep off the estate affairs.

Kihara said unknown people have warned him not to set foot in court during  proceedings over his late father’s estate.

He says in the affidavit that he suspects the warning came from the same people who are opposed to his inclusion as a beneficiary in his father’s estate. 

Kanyotu left behind an empire with extensive interests in hospitality, banking, mining, insurance, real estate, aviation and large scale farming.

He also left behind many cars and unknown amounts of money in several bank accounts.