The Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret has handed Eunita Kibor, the youngest wife of the late Rift Valley politician Jackson Kibor, a significant legal victory in a succession battle that has gripped the family for years. Justice Emmanuel Washe ruled that Eunita stands as the rightful executor of Kibor's estate, valued at over KSh 3 billion, and will carry out that role alongside the deceased's former lawyer, Jonah Bundotich. This decision brings to a close a long-standing dispute over the estate of the late politician.
The dispute involved more than 16 of Kibor's children, who challenged Eunita's position, claiming she relied on a forged will to secure the bulk of the estate for herself and her four children. The children raised several specific grievances, including that she had been collecting rent from a prime commercial building in central Eldoret without sharing proceeds with the rest of the family. They also alleged she illegally took possession of the more than 320-acre Mafuta Farm in Moiben sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.
Justice Washe, however, found a critical legal flaw in the children's argument. He pointed out that under the law, any complaint about fraudulent documents used in estate transactions must be raised by the legal executor of the estate, not individual heirs. He advised the children that if they wished to challenge Eunita's position, the appropriate step was to pursue the correct legal channels to have her replaced. This ruling highlights the complexities of Kenyan succession laws and the need for clarity in estate management.
Taking the stand in her own defence, Eunita told the court she acted only as a trustee of the Eldoret commercial building on behalf of her four children. She testified that Kibor had personally endorsed her appointment as executor before his death, and she described the hardships her household had endured, including being evicted from Mafuta Farm, which she said Kibor had transferred to her while he was still alive. Eunita's testimony provided insight into the late politician's intentions regarding his estate.
Jackson Kibor died in March 2022, leaving behind an enormous portfolio of assets. His landholdings spread across Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties, totalling hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land. He also held commercial plots in Eldoret, Nakuru and Nairobi, shares in blue-chip companies, multiple bank accounts, and various other movable and immovable assets. The extent of his wealth has been a subject of interest and speculation among his family members and the public.
Kibor is survived by four wives and 27 children. The complexity of his family structure and the vastness of his estate have contributed to the challenges in resolving the succession dispute. The court's decision provides a measure of clarity and direction for the management of his estate, but it remains to be seen how the various family members will navigate the aftermath of this ruling. The case has implications for the management of large estates in Kenya.
The succession case of Jackson Kibor is not an isolated incident. Another notable case is that of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, whose estate is valued at approximately KSh 1 billion. Court documents indicate that his debts could reach KSh 3.9 billion, despite the family separately listing liabilities of KSH 39.7 million. The case could determine how his complicated business interests, disputed debts and substantial estate are handled among his heirs and creditors.
Key points
- The Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret has confirmed Eunita Kibor as the sole executor of her late husband's KSh 3 billion estate.
- The dispute involved over 16 of Kibor's children, who claimed Eunita used a forged will to secure the bulk of the estate for herself and her four children.
- The court's decision provides a measure of clarity and direction for the management of Jackson Kibor's estate, but it remains to be seen how the various family members will navigate the aftermath of this ruling.
