Kenyan Woman in Sh100 Million Estate Tussle with Estranged Australian Lover

A Kenyan woman is embroiled in a court tussle with her estranged Australian lover as she seeks her share of a Sh100 million estate located in Diani, Kwale County.

Lucy Wanjiku Muku wants Karl Salzmann to give her a share of the property, which mainly comprises of holiday homes located at the second-row of Diani beach plots.

Appearing before High Court Judge Justice Eric Ogola, Wanjiku claimed she met Salzmann, a world gourmet traveller, when she was an employee in hotel industry in Germany. She said that they entered into a relationship before relocating to Kenya to start a joint business venture.

She told the court that, though they were not legally engaged, it can be presumed that they are married by virtue of their long cohabitation.

She said that they incorporated Karl Salzmann Limited and that she was the majority shareholder with 51 shares while Salzmann hold49 shares.

“The petitioner and the first respondent identified a parcel of land…owned by Bharatkumar Girdharlal Thaker. The petitioner and the first respondent purchased the same at Sh8,000,000.

“However, the property was transferred to the first affected party’s name due to the cordial relations which the petitioner and the first respondent had,” she says.

Through lawyer Gikandi Ngibuini she accuses Salzmann of fleecing her share of the property and further failing to disclose profits accrued from the sale of two beach houses in 2013 and 2015 at Sh46 million.

“The first affected party is also involved in the business of selling wine, cheese and ham which is distributed under name of Gourmet Traveller. The same has been sold to Paul Van Beveren and Paul Van Windesandmore Ltd and now owned by Karl Salzmann and Paul Van Beveren.”