OVER fifty elders from the Borana community of Moyale district requested two widows battling over the multi-million estate of former Moyale Member of Parliament, the late Dr Guracha Galgalo, to withdraw the ongoing court case and settle it amicably, a judge heard yesterday.
Moyale Member of Parliament Warrio Malla Galgalo told Justice David Onyancha that the elders met during a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Dr Galgalo and urged the two widows, Bemadetta Okotu Shama and Rehema Jaldesa, to withdraw the acrimonious succession case.
Galgalo told Justice Onyancha that Rehema agreed to withdraw the case but her co-wife Bemadetta refused, saying she would let the elders know her stand over the request after two weeks.
The MP told the judge the two weeks were to elapse after the hearing of the case in which Rehema is objecting to Bemadetta being declared the sole administrator of the vast estate of the late Guracha who died in a plane crash alongside four other MPs in Marsabit on April 10, last year.
Led in his evidence by lawyer Cecil Miller, Mr Wario said it was the feeling of the elders that the case be resolved amicably at home to avoid embarrassing scenarios.
Said he:“ We have been attempting to reconcile my two sisters-in law. The last attempt was April 10, 2007 when we commemorated the death of my brother(Guracha).Clan elders called a meeting at Galgalo Kalicha’s residence in Soldo which Bemadetta and Rehema attended.
The ciders raised concern over this pending suit and prevailed upon them to withdraw the case. Rehema accepted but Bemadetta refused, saying she will go back to them after two weeks.We resolved to leave the matter to the Court.” Rehema filed the suit seeking to have the letters of grant issued to Bemadetta declaring her the administrator of the late MP’s estate revoked. Shes says she is a genuine widow of the late MP and does not agree with Bemadetta referring to her as a“ mistress” , noting she was legally married to the deceased MP.
Bemadetta has refuted Rehema’s objection, saying she was married by the deceased in 1993 in a Christian ceremony at Soldo Catholic.
Church and Rehema cannot claim any marital relationship with the late MP.
Justice Onyancha advised the parties to consider settling the matter out of court.
