Karume kin: She unsuccessfully begged for c****r funds, now she’s no more

Michelle Wariara Karume, the granddaughter of the late billionaire businessman Njenga Karume, is dead.

Michelle succumbed to cancer on Saturday, September 14, in Houston, Texas in USA.

Until her death, Michelle, who was diagnosed with cancer, was pleading for funds to help her foot her medical expenses.

In January 2018, Michelle Karume pleaded with the High Court in Nairobi to have her grandfather’s funds released by the trustees so that she could treat cancer that -- she said -- was worsening by the day.

Michelle was the daughter of Njenga Karume’s late son, Joseph Karume Njenga and the late Jane Wangui Kabu. She was sister of Kenneth Wathugi Karume.

Michelle, who has died aged 26, is survived by her son, Jamal Karume Omore.

In 2015, the late Karume’s five children and the trustees of his multi-billion-shilling estate went to the High Court in Nairobi to seek guidance on how the former Cabinet minister’s property would be shared among the beneficiaries.

The court, as a result, put an injunction which barred the trustees from using Karume’s money unless directed by the court.

Karume died of cancer on February 24, 2012.

Before his demise, the ex-minister put all his wealth under three holding companies that were to be managed by the Njenga Karume Trust, which is under the trustees.

The trustees were to see to it that all financial needs of the beneficiaries, including his widow, who was alive at the time, children and grandchildren, were catered for.

They also had clear instructions on how the proceeds from his businesses would be managed.

However, some of Karume’s children said that their father’s will was not adhered to.