Lead image for Win for widow as court orders law firm to disclose late husband's assets.
A widow got a major reprieve after the High Court ordered a Nakuru law firm to disclose all assets, documents and information in its possession relating to the estate of her late husband, advocate Juma Kiplenge.
Justice Patricia Gichohi issued the orders in a case filed by Kiplenge's widow and administrator of his estate, Jedida Wairimu, against advocates Amos Andama and Makau Mutiso, trading as Kiplenge, Andama & Makau Advocates.
The court also directed the firm to account for all money, profits and other benefits that have accrued to Kiplenge's estate from the firm's business.
The dispute arose after Wairimu accused the surviving partners of withholding information on assets and unpaid legal fees earned by her late husband before his death on October 7, 2022.
According to court documents, Kiplenge founded Kiplenge & Kurgat Advocates in 2009 before forming Kiplenge, Andama & Makau Advocates on November 4, 2020, after admitting Andama and Mutiso as partners. Wairimu argued that her husband had completed substantial legal work before the new partnership was formed, leaving behind significant unpaid legal fees that form part of his estate.
She maintained that any receivables or profits arising from work completed before the defendants joined the partnership belonged solely to Kiplenge's estate.
Wairimu also accused the advocates of failing to disclose bank accounts, pending bills of costs and other assets linked to the practice despite repeated attempts to resolve the dispute out of court.