Since the death of their father, former Nakuru MP Dickson Kihika Kimani, the Kihika family has been on a warpath and embroiled in numerous court battles. The children have been unable to reach an amicable decision as regards their family property with a Sh600 million property being the bone of contention.
The widows and children are yet to agree on the distribution of the property he left behind a decade ago. The late Dickson Kihika had left eight wives behind, Nyambura Kihika, Lucy Wangari, Jane Wanjiru, Miriam Warau, Charity Nyambura, Margaret Wambui, Winnie Wanjeri and Alice Kihika at the time of his death, with almost 41 children who have now taken each other to court. The third wife, Jane Wanjiru, was caught up with trying to free her daughter Peris Njoki who was convicted in 2015 for assaulting her step-sister Caroline Wanjiku Kihika.
Njoki was later sentenced for assaulting her other sister, Caroline Kihika, after a heated argument that got physical regarding their late father’s properties and inheritance. Peris Njoki who is sister to Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has now been freed by the High Court after serving a two-year jail term. This was despite her lawyers and team accusing the judge of being unjust and biased without the option of a fine and failing to consider her side of the evidence. Ms Njoki linked her sentencing to the property wrangles orchestrated by her step-sisters and family.
Justice Rachael Ng’etich in his ruling said that the evidence was insufficient to prove the assault charges. Further, the judge faulted the initial ruling that sentenced Njoki terming it not objective.
In the ruling the judge stated,
“The prosecution’s evidence was not enough to prove that the appellant (Peris) indeed assaulted her sister. Prosecution witnesses admitted that they found the appellant fighting with her sister and even attempted to separate them. Nobody saw the alleged assault. The burden of proof was shifted to the appellant, who must be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.”
Njoki’s lawyer David Mong’eri in his submission said,
“The appellant and the complainant have been having an ongoing issue between them due to land disputes and other pending cases. It is clear that the complainant and his brother do not want the appellant to inherit any part of the land parcel and that is why they are making false charges against her.”
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