ELDORET, Kenya – The Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret has confirmed Eunita Kibor, the youngest wife of the late politician and businessman Jackson Kibor, as the sole executor of his estate, valued at more than Sh3 billion.
Justice Emmanuel Washe ruled that Eunita will administer the estate with the assistance of Kibor’s former advocate, Jonah Bundotich, bringing a key stage of the long-running family dispute before the court to a close.
The decision was challenged by more than 16 of Kibor’s children, who had opposed Eunita’s appointment and accused her of relying on a purportedly forged will that allegedly allocated a substantial portion of the estate to herself and her four children.
Court directs children to follow legal process
Justice Washe told the children that if they wished to challenge Eunita’s appointment as executor, they would have to use the appropriate legal process to seek her replacement.
The court also rejected part of the children’s arguments concerning allegedly fraudulent documents.
Justice Washe noted that where fraudulent documents are alleged to have been used in transactions involving an estate, the complaint would ordinarily have to be pursued by the legally recognised executor.
Eldoret commercial property at centre of dispute
One of the major assets at the centre of the family dispute is a commercial building in Eldoret city centre.
Kibor’s children have accused Eunita of collecting millions of shillings in rental income from the property without involving them in its management.
During her testimony, however, Eunita told the court that she held the property as a trustee for her four children, rather than in her personal capacity.
The dispute over the property forms part of the wider disagreement over how Kibor’s assets should be managed and eventually distributed among his beneficiaries.
Dispute over 320-acre Mafuta Farm
The family has also disagreed over control of the more than 320-acre Mafuta Farm in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.
Kibor’s children accused Eunita of taking control of the farm following their father’s death.
Eunita, however, told the court that she had experienced difficulties after Kibor’s death, including being evicted from Mafuta Farm.
She testified that the late politician had given the property to her during his lifetime.
Eunita also told the court that Kibor had supported her appointment as executor and had given his approval before his death.
Kibor left vast property empire
Kibor died in March 2022, leaving behind extensive agricultural and commercial interests spread across several counties.
The prominent farmer and politician had four wives and 27 children.
His assets include agricultural land in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties, as well as commercial properties in Eldoret, Nakuru and Nairobi.
The estate also includes bank accounts, shares in major companies and other movable and immovable assets.
