Kibor’s KSh 16 Billion Estate Sparks Family Feud: Widows, 29 Children Clash Over Rental Millions
The escalating tension prompted anti-riot police to intervene, restoring calm and diffusing the standoff.
Albert Kibor, one of the 29 children of the late Uasin Gishu tycoon Jackson Kibor, storms a commercial building in Eldoret town owned by the deceased, ordering tenants to vacate. The incident is part of an ongoing succession battle between Kibor's children and their stepmother, Eunita Kibor, over the distribution of rental income from the property.
The contentious battle for the late Uasin Gishu tycoon Jackson Kibor’s vast estate, valued at approximately KSh 16 billion, has intensified, pitting his two surviving widows and 29 children against his youngest wife, Eunita Kibor. The dispute took an alarming turn when some of Kibor’s children stormed a commercial building he owned in Eldoret town, located near the main bus stage, and began evicting tenants.
The chaotic scene caused panic among more than 100 traders operating businesses in the multi-million-shilling property, forcing them to close their shops abruptly. Leading the charge, Albert Kibor, one of the deceased’s sons, accused the tenants of defying a family agreement by depositing rent payments into an account controlled by Eunita, instead of a neutral joint account.
“We will not allow you to continue operating in this building unless you channel rent payments into the account agreed upon by the family,” Albert warned one of the tenants.
Albert, accompanied by a granddaughter of the late tycoon, claimed they were enforcing a court order that directed rental income be deposited into a neutral account to ensure equitable distribution among all beneficiaries. He criticized the tenants for allegedly ignoring the court directive and accused Eunita of siphoning rental proceeds exceeding KSh 100 million.
“Since Mzee passed away four years ago, we have not received a single shilling from the rental income. We cannot sit back while our stepmother enjoys these proceeds alone,” he added.
Eunita’s Defense
In her response, Eunita, the embattled youngest widow, defended her actions, stating that the property was allocated to her and her four children in Kibor’s will. “The building in question was entrusted to me as a trustee to cater to the needs of my children. This was clearly stated in Mzee’s will,” she explained. Eunita warned her stepchildren against harassment, asserting, “You are fighting a losing battle. I am the rightful owner of this property.”
Police Intervention
The escalating tension prompted anti-riot police to intervene, restoring calm and diffusing the standoff. Albert was arrested during the fracas and briefly detained at Eldoret Central Police Station before being released on a KSh 10,000 cash bail. Outside the station, Albert decried the police action, vowing to continue fighting for his father’s estate.
“The officers warned me that my bail conditions require me to maintain peace for seven months. However, this will not deter me from reclaiming what rightfully belongs to us,” he stated.
A Legacy of Controversy
Jackson Kibor, a prominent farmer, politician, and patriarch, passed away on March 16, 2022, at the age of 88, due to cardiorespiratory failure. He was buried on April 1, 2022, at his Kabenes home in Soy Sub-County, next to his first wife, Mary. His death left a sprawling family—four widows and 29 children—embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over his estate.
Eunita, named as one of the executors of Kibor’s will, sought court approval for the document, but her stepchildren and other family members opposed it, alleging forgery. The court heard claims that the tycoon was of sound mind when he drafted the will, which detailed the allocation of his wealth among family members, churches, squatters, and creditors.
Lawyer Jonah Korir, who prepared the will, testified before Justice Reuben Nyakundi at the Eldoret High Court, asserting, “The late Kibor was in full possession of his mental faculties when he gave me instructions in Nandi/Keiyo dialect, which I translated into English.” Korir revealed that the will was executed on February 27, 2021, and witnessed by two lawyers, Joseph Songok and David Korir.
The late tycoon’s instructions, delivered during a family meeting at his rural home, remain a source of deep contention, with claims and counterclaims adding layers of complexity to an already protracted legal battle.
About Author
