A retired senior employee of Moi University is locked in a bitter legal dispute with his divorced wife over ownership of a Ksh4 million matrimonial property in Eldoret town.

The former employee, Naboth Ahoya Oindo, and his ex-wife, Mary Adhiambo Ndire, have been embroiled in a bitter dispute since their falling out seven years ago.

The property in question is located in Langas estate on Eldoret-Kisumu highway in Uasin Gishu County. Ndire has since obtained a court injunction at the Eldoret High Court halting her eviction from the house by her former husband, pending the full hearing and determination of the case before Justice John Chigit.

In her court papers before the court on Monday, Ndire acknowledges that she is the former wife of the defendant, with whom, she claims, they have three children. Ndire alleges further that she contributed to the purchase of the property, Langas Block 4/626, through proceeds from her business and employment.

“I have lived on the property since 2003 and I have extensively developed it. It is my only home and I wholly depend on it for my livelihood,” Ndire says in her sworn affidavit.

The aggrieved woman further stated that the defendant has no legitimate claim over the suit land because he contributed very little in the development of the property. She avers that her former husband had neglected his duties, citing his inability to even settle accrued rates for the land in over 10 years.

The woman expressed fear that her former husband had hatched a scheme to forcefully evict her from the house and take possession of the property with the intention of putting it on sale. But in a quick rejoinder Oindo dismissed as unfounded claims by his former wife that he has no stake in the disputed property, saying the house was neither matrimonial property nor trust property as alleged.

He admits that indeed he married the petitioner as his second wife following the demise of his first wife 29 years ago. However, he disputes her claim about their children.

“I had only one child with the petitioner and it is not true that we had three children together,” Oindo told the court.

The defendant further claims at the time of their marriage, he was working for Moi University’s Botany Department. According to Oindo, his ex-wife was not engaged in any meaningful business or formal employment.

In his statement filed in court, Oindo says that he took a loan in 1999 from Moi University Pension Scheme, which was used to buy the land on which stands the house that is the subject of the court proceedings.

“I paid Ksh80,000 using my loan and the balance of three instalments was paid using my salary,” Oindo explained.

Oindo told the court he bought the property single-handedly and that the petitioner had no source of income to support the purchase of the same.

“It is not true the petitioner contributed to the purchase and development of the property, and it is also not true that the said property is a matrimonial home,” Oindo argued.

He added, “The petitioner has never paid even a single cent in form of rates clearance despite claiming that she contributed to the acquisition of the property – a clear sign that she doesn’t care,” Oindo told the court.

The matter is slated for hearing on September 21, 2026.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / Bby Maurice Aluda