Modern Coast is a prominent bus service company that connects major towns in East Africa. The company is owned by the late Shahid Pervez Butt, a wealthy businessman who also owned various properties in the coast region directly or through his companies, including Blue Bell Properties and Premac Properties.

Butt was assassinated on July 11, 2014, while driving from Moi International Airport, Mombasa.

After his death, a conflict emerged among his two widows and son over the control of his Sh5 billion estate.

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The conflict led to an eight-year succession case that has finally been settled by a High Court bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Patrick Otieno, and Njoki Mwangi.

This article will center on the properties, conflicts, death, and court case of Shahid Pervez Butt

Properties

Butt’s vast estate consisted of 209 motor vehicles, mostly luxury buses that were part of the Modern Coast Express Limited fleet. He also owned scores of houses, plots, and other commercial properties at the coast, directly or through various companies, including Blue Bell Properties and Premac Properties.

Cash flows from the real estate and transport concerns were held and invested in offshore tax jurisdictions, with some of the most preeminent wealth management institutions, reflecting his sophisticated and globally astute approach to running the estate.

However, the true nature of Butt’s wealth, estimated at Sh5 billion, is shrouded in secrecy, and the businessman himself was only occasionally brought to the limelight by disputes involving his commercial interests or criminal charges in court.

Conflicts

After Butt’s death, a conflict emerged among his two widows and son over the control of his estate. Mrs. Akhtar Butt and her son, Haroon Butt, and Mrs. Regine Butt and her two children, who are minors, were involved in the conflict.

The conflict led to an eight-year succession case that was settled by the High Court bench. The case involved the distribution of the property, including various companies like Blue Bell Properties, Modern Coast Builders & Constructors, Pribhai Jivanjee and Company Ltd, and Vantage Point Clearing and Forwarding Ltd.

Others were Modern Coast Road Transporters, Vantage Road Transporters, Modern Coast Express, and Modern Coast Courier.

Death

Butt was assassinated on July 11, 2014, while driving from Moi International Airport, Mombasa. He was battling charges related to bankrolling terrorism and incitement to violence preferred against him by the government before his death.

Before he died, he ran a secretive business empire, part of which was set up in the tax havens of the West, including the island of Jersey. The true nature of Mr. Butt’s wealth is still shrouded in secrecy.

Court Case:

The High Court bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Patrick Otieno, and Njoki Mwangi distributed the property to Mrs. Akhtar Butt and her son Haroon Butt and Mrs. Regine Butt and her two children, who are minors.

The judges directed that Akhtar and Regine receive 6.25 per cent each of the property, while Haroon gets 35 per cent, and the two minors 35 per cent and 17 per cent.

They also directed that seven parcels of land be distributed equally. Four bank accounts in the UK, Bermuda, British Isles, and Imperial Bank Ltd were listed in the suit documents, but only the UK one was distributed.

The court also noted that no evidence was placed before it to prove any impropriety on the part of the deceased in the way the companies and their finances were managed.

It further said that if the deceased and Akhtar worked harmoniously, then allocation of shares to her was done in harmony and what was allocated was the reward for her industry in the family enterprise.