The Ndegwa family is a Kenyan family with significant business interests in real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture. Over several decades, the family built a diversified portfolio of assets both locally and internationally, with operations and properties in Kenya, Dubai, Mauritius, and the United Kingdom.
Despite their success, the Ndegwas faced increasing complexity around the management and transition of their wealth. Their key concerns included:
Lack of a structured plan for intergenerational wealth transfer.
Exposure to legal and political risks, especially for assets held in Kenya.
Uncertainty around succession, with multiple heirs involved in different family businesses.
No provisions for a dependent family member with special needs.
Desire to establish a philanthropic footprint without diluting the family’s commercial vision.
Concerns about tax efficiency and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
The family recognized the need for a comprehensive estate planning strategy that went beyond drafting a will. They wanted to build a legacy structure that was future-proof, legally sound, tax efficient, and aligned with their values.
Innovate Law LLP undertook a deep, multi-phase estate planning engagement with the Ndegwa family. Our approach included:
We began with an in-depth mapping of the family’s assets, legal entities, and ownership structures. This included:
Residential and commercial real estate
Local and offshore business holdings
Share portfolios
Intellectual property
Beneficiaries across three generations
We helped the Ndegwas establish The Ndegwa Family Trust, a legally binding trust designed to:
Protect key assets from potential litigation, political uncertainty, or internal disputes.
Avoid probate and ensure a smooth transition of assets.
Provide clear distribution rules and succession planning for each generation.
Create a sub-trust with provisions for a dependent heir with special needs.
Incorporate a family governance framework, including the appointment of trustees and an advisory council.
To maximize efficiency, the trust structure included offshore elements registered in Mauritius and Dubai, with tax optimization strategies that complied with both Kenyan and international tax laws.
We established a charitable foundation as a component of the trust, allowing the Ndegwa family to fund education, health, and entrepreneurship programs in their local communities.
Innovate Law drafted all relevant trust deeds, letters of wishes, trustee appointment letters, and liaised with administrators across jurisdictions. The firm also trained key family members on trust governance.
A comprehensive trust structure that secures the family’s wealth across generations.
Legal and tax compliance in Kenya and offshore jurisdictions.
Peace of mind for the family regarding special needs care, asset protection, and conflict prevention.
A stronger sense of family unity, with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and shared values.
A living legacy through charitable giving, aligned with the Ndegwa family’s mission.
“We came to Innovate Law LLP at a time when we knew it was no longer enough to simply plan for the present—we had to protect the future. As the Ndegwa family, we have spent decades building businesses, acquiring real estate, and investing across borders. Yet, we lacked a clear, secure, and legally sound structure to preserve our wealth and values for generations to come.
From our very first consultation, Innovate Law LLP impressed us with their deep understanding of multi-jurisdictional estate planning and family wealth structuring. They helped us create a strategy that protects our legacy, empowers future generations, and supports our community. We couldn’t have asked for better hands to entrust our family’s future to.”
— Mr. & Mrs. Ndegwa, Founders of the Ndegwa Family Trust