The High Court in Mombasa has ordered three widows of former Local Government minister Emmanuel Karisa Maitha to file an account of how they have spent the money awarded to them by Parliament following the death of their husband.

Justice Joseph Sergon gave Mrs Rachel Maitha, Mrs Philomena Kadzo and Mrs Alice Mbodze 45 days to file the report. After this, they will also file a distribution schedule of the property within 14 days.

The orders were issued after Mr Maitha's children Faida Mwaka and her brother Nassib James moved to court to stop the widows from distributing the assets.

Through their lawyer, Mr Francis Kadima, they want the High Court to make orders for the preservation of the minister's assets, pending the hearing of an application for confirmation of grant issued in September, 2005.

Two children

On Tuesday, the court was told that the widows had been distributing the property without an agreement with the two children and that they had been awarded Sh18 million as emoluments following the death of Mr Maitha.

However, Rachel, has sworn an affidavit saying the family had debts to pay amounting to over Sh34 million.

These include hospital bills for another widow, Philomena (Sh2 million,) a Co-operative Bank loan (Sh5.8 million) and Sh1 million owed to Saliyani Curtains.

The debts include Sh28 million allegedly borrowed from an Italian, Supreme Furnishers (Sh687,000), Voyager Beach Resort (Sh232,000), Car hire services (Sh477,300), Grand Regency (Sh47,000), Ketty Tours(Sh100,000) and High Point Hotel (Sh200,000).

The two want to be included in the letter of administration.