Prominent Nairobi lawyer Donald Kipkorir has issued a strong warning against killing family members for inheritance, saying anyone who murders a parent, husband or wife risks losing all rights to benefit from the victim’s estate.
In a strongly worded message offering what he described as free legal advice, Kipkorir said inheritance should never be treated as an entitlement or a reason to take another person’s life.
“When you kill your Father, Mother, Husband or Wife, the law disinherits you 100%. If you want inheritance, be patient. You may outlive them. Or you may go before them. But killing is a ticket to eternal poverty & then HELL!” he stated.
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He added that inheritance should be regarded as a gift rather than an obligation, urging people to exercise patience instead of resorting to violence over family property.
His remarks come against the backdrop of investigations into the killing of 86-year-old Dorita Lasinder Macharia, the mother of former television presenter and actress Regina Wambui Gitau, popularly known as Regina Re.
Macharia was found dead inside her home in Loresho, Nairobi, on the night of October 30, 2026, with serious injuries.
A postmortem examination conducted on November 3 established that she died from severe blood loss caused by multiple stab wounds to the neck. Government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia also identified more than 20 sharp-force injuries on different parts of her body.
Regina Re and three other relatives were subsequently allowed to be detained for 10 days as detectives pursued investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death. The four had not been convicted of any offence, and investigations were ongoing as of November 4, 2026.
What Kenyan law says about inheritance and murder
Kipkorir’s remarks also draw attention to Section 96 of Kenya’s Law of Succession Act, Cap 160, which expressly bars a person who, while sane, murders another person from benefiting directly or indirectly from the victim’s estate.
The law provides that the beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate should be determined as though the murderer had died immediately before the victim.
Section 96(2) further provides that a conviction for murder is sufficient evidence that the person committed the offence for purposes of the inheritance provision.
This means that a person cannot lawfully benefit from an inheritance by deliberately taking the life of the person from whom they stand to inherit.
The provision is part of Kenya’s legal safeguards against individuals benefiting financially from murder.
Kipkorir’s message serves as a reminder that disputes over family wealth and inheritance should be resolved through lawful channels, not violence.
As detectives continue investigating Macharia’s death, the case has renewed public attention on family disputes, the protection of elderly relatives and the legal consequences of murder.
