Six months before his death from cancer at Karen Hospital at the age of 79, Ex-Finance minister David Mwiraria had left a will that required his children set apart 50 acres of land purposely for planting indigenous trees with medicinal value.
It was in 2016 when Mr Mwiraria issued the directive.
Mwiraria, who had served as Finance minister for three years from 2003, wished that his children would sell the medicinal plants to help the sick.
A reading from his Will points to an economist who wanted to alleviate others’ pain or even provide cures for illnesses after his cancer battle.
“I appoint my brother Dr Nehemia Kimathi as my executor and trustee of this will. I give and bequeath all my estate, both real and personal whatsoever unto my trustee upon trust to hold and preserve my real estate and after payment thereto my debts and funeral expenses,” Mwiraria’s will written on November 7, 2016 reads in part.
“My trustee shall hold in trust and benefit to my children and the said beneficiaries’ children.”
A 50-acre piece of land in an area called Mulika in Meru County would be set aside for the medicinal trees and for rearing cattle. Mwiraria tasked his son, Koome Mwiraria, to take care of this farm whose proceeds would be transferred to Muringa Limited.
The former London School of Economics alumni envisioned that his family would grow his empire even after his death. His Will was about developing his estate and selling assets that would not bring money to his children.
For ease of management, he directed that all monies collected — be it from sales or rent — would be held under Meru Oak Limited and Muringa Limited