Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is the legal owner of a Sh200 million palatial house also claimed by a lawyer, former Tetu MP James Ndung’u Gethenji has told the High Court.
Mr Gethenji told Justice Oscar Angote that he sold the house to the county boss at a cost of Sh80.6 million in 2015.
Mr Gethenji disclosed that besides Ms Waiguru, he also sourced buyers for 51 houses at the upmarket Kihingo Village (Waridi) Gardens estate in Kitisuru, Nairobi County.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Sh20 billion estate sits on a 37-acre parcel of land and is owned by Kihingo Village (Waridi) Gardens Limited, a family company of the Gethenji’s.
The family also owns Wangema Limited, which operates the Aberdare Safari Hotel in Nyeri County. That company received Sh10 million from the sale of the disputed house to offset existing debt.
Mr Gethenji last Friday stated that Ms Waiguru moved into the property in September 2015 and has been living there for the past 10 years. He said she negotiated the purchase directly with the four directors of Kihingo Village (Waridi) Gardens Robert Gethenji, Fredrick Gitahi, Hilda Wangari (deceased) and himself.
He said all directors agreed that the proceeds from the house sale be used to pay off debts owed to the estate’s service providers.
When asked by lawyer Virginia Shaw who is representing Governor Waiguru alongside Paul Kiragu Wathuta why his brothers Robert and Fredrick now deny knowledge of the sale, Mr Gethenji responded: “I find it very odd that my brothers have changed their minds—possibly after being influenced by the project’s lawyer, Chris Kabiro, who is also claiming ownership of the house.”
He further claimed that his brothers and Mr Kabiro were now colluding to frustrate Ms Waiguru’s ownership despite having approved the original sale.
The entrance of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru's Kitisuru home in Nairobi
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Gethenji also revealed that family wrangles derailed the completion of the transaction. At one point, his brothers reportedly called in the Flying Squad leading to his arrest though he was later cleared of charges.
He claimed that lawyer Kabiro had been evicted from House No 1D for failing to pay rent and forging a sale agreement to falsely claim ownership of the same property.
“When the fraud was discovered, I reported the matter to the police. Investigations confirmed my signature on Mr Kabiro’s sale agreement had been forged,” Mr Gethenji told the court.
Though he did not press charges against Mr Kabiro reportedly at the request of his late mother who was close to Kabiro’s family, Mr Gethenji insisted the forged agreement was legally void.
“Any agreement vitiated by forgery is a nullity in law. I urge this court to declare Ms Waiguru the bonafide owner,” he told the court.
Asked by Mr Kabiro’s lawyer Titus Koceyo whether he sought any relief from courts, Mr Gethenji replied “I am not seeking any relief. I only ask the court to grant the relief sought by Waiguru.”
In the case, Ms Waiguru sued Kihingo Village (Waridi) Gardens Ltd to compel the company to finalise the sale agreement.
On his part, Mr Kabiro claims he bought the same property for Sh42.8 million in 2007 and cites a court order issued by Justice Eric Ogolla in June 2012 barring the sale of the property.
Former Tetu MP James Ndung’u Gethenji.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
However, Justice Angote heard that the order had lapsed before Ms Waiguru purchased the house. The court was also told that Mr Kabiro did not pursue the matter for over 12 months triggering Order 40 Rule 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules which states that injunctions automatically lapse after a year of inaction.
Lawyer Kabiro, who is seeking Sh130 million in compensation from Kihingo for legal services, has urged the court to strike out Ms Waiguru’s case terming it illegal and against public policy.
But Ms Waiguru argues that she bought the house after the injunction had lapsed and that Mr Kabiro had failed to act for over 21 months. She further asserts that Mr Kabiro had already been evicted by the time she took possession.
A document examiner Jacob Oduor told the court on July 11, 2025, that Mr Gethenji’s signature on Mr Kabiro’s sale agreement was indeed forged.
Governor Waiguru’s lawyers cited a High Court ruling from November 9, 2023, in which Justice Angote reaffirmed that injunctions expire automatically after 12 months if the suit is dormant.
The county boss has stated that she paid over Sh40.6 million as a deposit and has lived in the house continuously since 2015. She is asking the court to compel Kihingo to complete the sale and transfer the property to her officially.
The case will be mentioned on October 8, 2025, to fix a judgment date.
