Court Confirms Eunita Kibor as Executor of Late Jackson Kibor’s Estate

The Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret has confirmed Eunita Kibor, the youngest wife of the late Rift Valley politician and farmer Jackson Kibor, as the executor of his multi-billion-shilling estate.

Justice Emmanuel Washe ruled that there was no doubt that Eunita was the sole executor of Kibor's estate, which has been estimated at more than Sh3 billion.

The court directed that she would execute the estate with the assistance of Kibor's former lawyer, Jonah Bundotich.

Dispute over Kibor's estate

The ruling followed a dispute involving more than 16 of Kibor's children, who had challenged Eunita's position and raised questions over the will through which the estate was to be distributed.

The children accused their stepmother of using what they alleged was a forged will to allocate herself and her four children a substantial share of their father's estate.

Justice Washe, however, dismissed aspects of the children's challenge and pointed to what he considered a legal deficiency in their argument.

The judge said that where allegedly fraudulent documents are used in transactions involving an estate, the law requires the complaint to be made by the legal executor of the estate.

The court advised the children that if they were dissatisfied with Eunita's position as executor, they were free to pursue the appropriate legal process to have her replaced.

Eldoret commercial building at centre of dispute

Among the properties at the centre of the succession dispute is a commercial building owned by the late politician in Eldoret's city centre.

The children have accused Eunita of collecting millions of shillings in rental income from the property without involving other members of the family.

Eunita, however, told the court that she was acting only as a trustee of the commercial building on behalf of her four children.

She further testified that Kibor had supported her appointment as executor and had given her his blessing before his death.

Dispute over Mafuta Farm

The family dispute also extends to the more than 320-acre Mafuta Farm in Moiben Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County.

Kibor's children have accused Eunita of unlawfully taking control of the farm following their father's death.

During her testimony, Eunita gave the court her account of the family's difficulties, including an eviction from Mafuta Farm, which she said had been given to her by Kibor before his death.

Other properties mentioned in the dispute include matrimonial homes in Chepkoilel, on the outskirts of Eldoret, and Kabebes in Ziwa along the Eldoret-Ziwa highway.

Kibor left extensive property

Jackson Kibor died in March 2022, leaving behind extensive agricultural and commercial assets.

His landholdings reportedly extended across Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties.

Kibor had four wives and 27 children.

His estate also included commercial properties in Eldoret, Nakuru and Nairobi, bank accounts, shares in listed companies and other movable and immovable assets.

The value and distribution of the estate have been the subject of a prolonged succession dispute before the High Court in Eldoret.

The latest ruling confirms Eunita Kibor's position as executor, although disputes concerning the administration and distribution of the estate remain before the courts.