Wambui, Collymore children settle Sh200m estate dispute out of court

A legal dispute pitting the widow of former Safaricom boss Bob Collymore against his two children over the control of his multi-million-shilling estate has been settled out of court.

This follows an agreement between Wambui Collymore and the children, James Robert and Claire Helen, to withdraw the case.

The two are from Collymore’s previous marriage with Claire Bishop Collymore.

The then Safaricom boss married Wambui at a private ceremony in Nairobi in 2016.

In the consent agreement dated September 23, 2022 and filed before Family Court Judge Maureen Odero, the two sides agreed to drop the case, paving way for the distribution of the assets.

“By mutual consent of all the disputants in this matter, all the application(s) in court concerning the matter under reference are removed by the act of signing this mediation agreement and the matter should be marked settled in the court records with effect from the date of this agreement. It is further agreed that each disputant will settle their legal costs,” the consent filed in court states.

Following the new development, Justice Odero adopted the agreement as an order of the court.

Prior to the agreement, Wambui and Claire had moved to court each seeking to control the wealth valued at over Sh200 million. The assets include cash, real estate, cars and shares in various companies.

True records

Claire wanted the court to cancel the powers given to Wambui to administer Collymore’s estate on July 28, 2021.

She had accused Wambui of failing to disclose and produce true records of the assets including the bank accounts and statements.

Collymore (pictured) died on July 1, 2019 at his Kitisuru home after a long battle with cancer.

He left two wills one in Kenya and another outside the country.

The second will has not been made public, neither has the jurisdiction of its signing been revealed in court filings.

The Kenyan will, filed in court by Wambui, states that all assets Collymore owned locally will be inherited by Wambui.

The will by Wambui stated that all assets Collymore owned locally were to be inherited by her.

Wambui had asked the court to allow her to leave out some of  Collymore’s properties from the court records, to avoid a lot of publicity.