Nairobi: Confusion in Court as Man Claims Woman Alleging to Be Nyachae's Spouse Is His Wife
- An elderly man, Jacob Michuki Mokaya, told the court he was the true husband of Margaret Chweya, who claims to be the late Simeon Nyachae’s widow
- Mokaya claimed he married Margaret under Kisii customary law in 1973 and fathered a son with her before they separated in 1978
- His testimony added confusion to the inheritance case, following a similar claim by another man who also disputed Margaret’s marital ties to Nyachae
- Under cross-examination, Mokaya admitted he never paid dowry and failed to explain inconsistencies in the names of the son he claimed as his
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The case over the estate of the late Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae took a dramatic turn at the Milimani Law Courts as yet another man surfaced to challenge the legitimacy of a key claimant.
Source: UGC
Appearing before Justice Eric Ogola, an elderly man identified as Jacob Michuki Mokaya told the court that the woman claiming to be Nyachae’s widow, Margaret Chweya, was actually his wife and that they even had a child together.
Michuki alleged that he was informed about the case by individuals who told him the case had gotten serious.
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"I am currently at home, farming. I am a peasant farmer, back home in Kisii. I came to know about this case when I was told that things were serious. It concerns my former wife, who now claims she was married to the late Nyachae," Mokaya testified.
Was Mokaya married to Margaret Chweya?
According to Mokaya, he married Margaret in 1973 under Kisii customary law while working at the Prisons Training College.
He claimed the union was arranged through Margaret’s brother, and they stayed together until 1978, when they separated.
Mokaya told the court that during that period, they had a son, whom he named Samuel Onyancha, also referred to as Rowney.
"That is the claim she is making that she was Nyachae’s wife. I am here to give evidence regarding that matter, and to explain how she was, in fact, my wife. Rowney Chweya is our son we had him together. I married her in 1973. We separated in 1978. It was a customary marriage," he stated.
He explained that after their separation, he was not actively involved in their son's life, stressing there was no contact.
"I used to provide for Margaret and our son. But after we separated, there was no contact. If I met my son today, I wouldn’t recognize him. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. I hold no grudge against him. If he comes to me, I’ll be happy because he is my blood," Mokaya said.
Did Mokaya pay Margaret Chweya's dowry?
This testimony adds to the growing confusion in the inheritance dispute, as earlier, another man appeared in the same court with similar claims that he, not Nyachae, was Margaret’s husband.
The courtroom developments have now raised a core question: who is Margaret Chweya’s actual spouse?
Source: UGC
During cross-examination, Mokaya admitted that although their union followed Kisii customs, he had never paid dowry, including cows, a key cultural requirement to formalise marriage.
Pressed further, he confirmed that their son was enrolled in school in 1978 but could not provide any evidence of financial support or involvement in the child’s life since then.
The court presented a school report card bearing the name David Chweya, but Mokaya could not explain the discrepancy between that and the name he gave, Samuel Onyancha.
Who are Nyachae's known wives?
As earlier reported, the late prominent politician was born in 1932 to colonial chief Musa Nyandusi.
Under his father’s pressure, Nyachae entered into a polygamous marriage early in life.
He took a 16‑year‑old as his first wife while still studying, dropped out soon after, and within three years had married three wives in succession.
He ultimately had five wives, two of whom have passed away, and fathered over 20 children.
Described as a strict household head, he shared during a 2016 funeral how his wives respected him: upon arriving home, they would quietly bring him food without speaking.
His wives were: Esther Nyaboke and Druscilla Kerubo (both deceased), plus Martha Mwango, Sylvia Nyachae, and Grace Wamuyu.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
