Private Investigator Exposes Alleged Fraud in Nyachae Succession Battle

Former police officer’s forensic investigation uncovers web of marriages and false paternity claims in high-stakes inheritance dispute

A comprehensive investigation by a former Kenya National Police Service officer has exposed what appears to be an elaborate scheme involving false marriage and paternity claims in the ongoing succession battle over late Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae’s vast estate.

Sebastian Omboto, a licensed private investigator and member of the Kenya Association of Kenya Investigators, was retained by the Nyachae family to examine claims made by Margaret Kerubo Chweya, who alleged she was Nyachae’s customary wife and mother to three of his children.

Web of Marriages Uncovered

Omboto’s investigation, spanning both Kenya and the United States, revealed a complex pattern of multiple marriages that contradicted Chweya’s sworn affidavits. Through collaboration with US-based investigators, Omboto discovered that Chweya had been married to George Gordon Odero on April 11, 1987, in Clark County, Nevada, followed by another marriage to James Leroy Totten on July 22, 1989.

The investigation further revealed that Chweya’s marital history in Kenya was equally complex, with documented marriages to Jacob Machuki Mokaya in 1973 and later to Michael Pondo Migowa.

Paternity Claims Debunked

Perhaps most damaging to Chweya’s case were the findings regarding the paternity of the children she claimed were fathered by Nyachae. Through careful examination of official birth certificates and baptismal records from the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Omboto established that:

• Samuel Onyancha (also known as Rodney Chweya) was actually the son of Jacob Machuki Mokaya, confirmed by both official documentation and direct testimony from Machuki himself
• John Paul Chweya’s father was identified as Michael Pondo Migowa, as evidenced by baptismal certificate number 442 from 1980

Community Testimony Contradicts Claims

The investigation extended beyond document analysis to include interviews with key community members and family representatives. Omboto interviewed Nyachae’s brothers Benjamin Masakara and Hezron Omurwa Nyandusi, who serve as co-chairs of the Musa Nyandusi family, both of whom categorically denied that any customary marriage had taken place between their late brother and Chweya.

In traditional Kisii culture, such marriages would have been community knowledge, involving elaborate ceremonies and the payment of dowries witnessed by extended family and community leaders.

Stepmother’s Revelations

A crucial breakthrough came through Omboto’s interview with Agnes Kemunto Chweya, Margaret’s stepmother, who confirmed knowledge of her stepdaughter’s various marriages but made no mention of any union with Nyachae. Kemunto reportedly confirmed receiving dowries from the documented husbands.

Local Authority Denials

The investigation also revealed that Eric Ratemo, the chief of Kegati Location, denied ever meeting Chweya, further undermining her claims of local recognition as Nyachae’s wife.

Legal Implications

The forensic report, filed as an affidavit before the High Court, represents a significant development in what has become one of Kenya’s most closely watched succession battles. The late Simeon Nyachae, who served as a Cabinet Minister and Nyaribari Chache MP, left behind a substantial estate, making the determination of legitimate heirs a matter of considerable financial importance.

The investigation’s findings suggest that Chweya’s claims may constitute perjury, given that they were made under oath in court documents. Legal experts suggest this could result in criminal charges beyond the civil succession dispute.

Investigative Methodology

Omboto’s investigation demonstrated the importance of cross-border cooperation in modern forensic work. By combining Kenyan official records with US marriage certificates and conducting extensive interviews across multiple counties, the investigation painted a comprehensive picture that would have been impossible through single-jurisdiction inquiry alone.

The case highlights the sophisticated methods now available to private investigators, particularly those with law enforcement backgrounds, in unraveling complex fraud schemes that span continents and decades.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

The Nyachae family’s decision to engage professional investigative services reflects the high stakes involved in the succession dispute. With the forensic report now part of the court record, Justice Ogola will need to weigh this evidence against Chweya’s sworn statements when determining the legitimate beneficiaries of the Nyachae estate.

The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough due diligence in succession matters and demonstrates how modern investigative techniques can expose even carefully constructed false narratives that span multiple jurisdictions and decades.

This investigation underscores the critical role of professional forensic services in ensuring justice prevails in complex inheritance disputes, particularly where substantial estates and multiple claimants are involved.