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| Eldoret businessman Jackson Kibor |
The battle for the multi-billion estate left behind by Uasin Gishu tycoon Jackson Kibor will return to court. Jackson Kibor died in 2022. The Eldoret businessman owned multi-billion properties. This week, the estate’s beneficiaries appeared before High Court judge Emily Ominde. However, the hearing was postponed when she requested that the proceedings be transcribed so that she could review and provide guidance. Justice Reuben Nyakundi previously heard the case, but he recused himself. Why Jackson Kibor’s will is contested According to Daily Nation, two widows and over 20 children sired by the late billionaire were contesting his will over forgery claims.
They asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to examine the will. Some beneficiaries, including Tegla Cheptoo, Irene Jepleting, Paul Kirwa, Caroline Jeptanui and Stephen Kiprono, argued their father’s signature on the will was forged. When did Jackson Kibor write his will? The controversial Uasin Gishu farmer died on March 16, 2022. He reportedly wrote the contested will on February 27, 2021, before lawyer Jonah Korir, witnessed by Joseph Songok. However, the beneficiaries objecting to the will argued he was coerced or influenced. “At the time of purportedly making the will, the testator (Kibor) did not possess the required testamentary capacity, freedom from coercion, importunity or other influences,” they submitted through lawyer Andrew Muge in court. Citizen Digital reported that the court ordered a forensic examination of the will. What was the value of Kibor’s wealth? Kibor left behind an estate estimated at KSh 16 billion.
The Eldoret businessman’s widows and over 20 children have been fighting to control the estate, which includes thousands of acres of land. Kibor, who rose from a driver to a renowned tycoon, had an agribusiness empire that included farms in Kabenes, Moiben, Kipkabus and Kitale. He also owned a luxurious mansion and numerous off-road vehicles, including a Landcruiser pickup, which helped him navigate unpaved roads.
by Japhet Ruto