Wambui Otieno’s Widower Peter Mbugua Fights for Share of Her Multi-Million Shilling Wealth in Court

Peter Mbugua, the widower of freedom fighter Wambui Otieno has moved to court to challenge his late wife’s will.

In court papers filed at Milimani Law Court, Mbugua wants Wambui’s will reviewed, arguing that she was mentally unwell when she wrote it.

“The deceased did not have the necessary mental capacity to know what she was doing at the time of making the will due to illness,” he argues.

Mbugua alleges that Wambui did not share her wealth to him sufficiently as she only wrote that he will own at least one car, a Toyota G-Touring. He says a Toyota Harrier was given to one of her daughters, while it was registered under his name when Wambui purchased it.

Wambui shared her entire wealth including cars, houses and cash among her 10 children and eight grandchildren. Daughter Gladwell Otieno and sons Jairus Ougo and Fredrick Munyua inherited her house in Nairobi’s Karen estate.

The Upper Matasia residence where she was buried and had wanted her first husband SM Otieno buried, was given to Jane Nunga and Lewis Waiyaki, her will shows.

The relationship between Wambui and Mbugua hit the headlines in July 2003 when they held a civil wedding at Sheria house and later got married in church. At the time, Mbugua was 25 years old, while Wambui was 67.

Their engagement raised criticism with many claiming that the former stonemason was only after Wambui’s wealth, but Mbugua rubbished the claims, saying he was in love with her.

Mbugua’s mother, who was 53 years old then, refused to acknowledge Wambui as her daughter-in-law, while Wambui’s daughters boycotted the wedding. They were unhappy that their mother was tying the knot to a man 42 years younger than her. Mbugua is said to have dumped her fiancée before marrying Wambui.

Mbugua’s mother passed away a few days after the wedding. Wambui’s first husband was the late S M Otieno, a prominent Luo lawyer.

Wambui died on August 30, 2011.