The battle over the division of former prominent Rift Valley politician the late William Murgor’s over Sh2 billion estate among his children has taken a new turn.

This is after the High Court in Eldoret was told that the ‘will’,  which  Keiyo North MP James Murgor,  who is the deceased eldest son, relied on to bequeath himself lion share of the  multi-billion-shilling property at the expense of his siblings, was forged.

James has been accused by some of his siblings of excluding from their late father’s estate that is spread in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.

Lawyer for the aggrieved sibling, Philip Murgor, informed the court that the purported will allegedly left behind by the deceased had been examined by officials from the national government and found to be fake.

Cross-examined

The MP had been put to task during cross-examination by the applicant’s lawyer to explain the authenticity of the  will which he was allegedly bequeathed a Sh400 million prime plot in Eldoret town.

The court was treated to a light moment when James stated that he has never been the head of the family of his late father who was a long serving Kerio Central MP during the Kanu era.

The court was taken aback when the MP, who was being cross-examination by Philip  told Lady Justice Hellen Omondi that he was only the head of his family that include his wife, children and mother.

This was despite the fact that he has been chairing family meetings as the eldest son at his Kapkoi farm in Keiyo North on how the father’s estate should be shared.

Heated war of words

“Your honor, I have never been the head of my late father’s family but only the head of my immediate family members which include my wife, children and mother,” Murgor told the packed court.

Earlier on, the MP engaged Philip in a heated war of words forcing the judge to intervene and cool down the tempers.

“Do not lose your temper and simply just tell court the truth because it is very easy,” said Justice Omondi.

The MP told the court it was against the Keiyo culture to include girls in the distribution of the family property arguing  they were reckless and were bound to squander it.

He claimed he had allocated his sisters two acres of land each as part of the distribution of their father’s wealth on condition that they should not build on it or sell to outsiders but only carry out farming activities.

He said in the event his sisters want to dispose the property, they should sell it back to him in accordance with the wishes of his father.

The late Murgor was married to five wives who sired him 29 children among them the current MP. Justice Omondi adjourned the case to February 26.