Of riches, ruins and widows' war: How flashy William Chepkut fell

Throughout his life, the late Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut and former personal assistant to the powerful former Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott lived a flashy life.

But as The Nairobian has established, Chepkut, known for his impeccable English, was a man under siege. Exactly four years after he breathed his last, it has emerged that Chepkut died a poor man following the crumbling of his vast estate, coupled with a broken marriage.

At the centre of the dispute is a succession feud involving his three widows, who are fighting over the multimillion-shilling estate he left behind.

Daniel Chirchir, a younger brother of the late outspoken legislator, has revealed how the family had to turn to well-wishers, including politicians, for financial assistance to give the deceased a decent send-off.

Chirchir narrated in an Eldoret court how their pleas for help were eventually answered after a swift response from well-wishers and politicians, led by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who raised the required funds, enabling them to give their brother a dignified burial amid what he described as neglect by his spouses.

The High Court heard that despite his substantial property portfolio, Chepkut was battling severe financial difficulties in the final years of his life, with several of his assets tied up as security for loans.

Forced relocation

According to Chirchir, his brother lived in a toxic relationship that forced him to relocate to the home of an Asian friend in Westlands, Nairobi, where he was housed in a servant’s quarter.

More surprising to the court was that the late former MP had residential houses in the Westlands area and another in Riverside, Nairobi County.

Chirchir further told the court that the Asian friend, only identified as Sanjay, hosted the deceased alongside his personal driver and a cook until his demise four years ago.

The court was further told that the deceased left his residential house in Westlands following a bitter domestic dispute with his first wife, Milcah Jepngetich.

“My late brother had nobody to take care of him, including cooking, clothing and other chores, and that is why he decided to seek help from his Asian friend. Sanjay embraced him and went ahead to host him in a servant’s quarter of his bungalow, where he stayed with his driver and a cook until his demise,” Chirchir told the judge.

Chirchir told the court that he had been forced to intervene in the feud pitting his late brother’s widows to ensure the six children he left behind did not suffer.

“The person who is causing all these problems in the family of my late brother is the first wife because she wants to lock out her co-wives in the distribution of the assets that were left behind by the deceased,” he added.

Chirchir took issue with Milcah for allegedly trying to dispose of one of the deceased’s hotels worth millions of shillings without involving her co-wives, noting that he was forced to move to court to block the sale of the property.

Marital rift

“My sister-in-law left my elder brother at the hour of need and flew to Australia as he suffered alone in his Nairobi house with no one to take care of him. By the time she flew back to the country, their relationship had reached a point of no return,” Chirchir said.

But Milcah, in her rejoinder, insisted that she was the only legally married wife of the deceased, contrary to claims that he had another family.

According to Milcah, she did not know how the two women claiming to be her husband’s wives came into his life, asserting that the deceased had never told her about them.

She argued that the women were strangers with no right to lay claim to the estate left behind by her late husband.

Milcah maintained that she was legally married to Chepkut in a church wedding in Eldoret some 28 years ago and that they were blessed with two sons.

She further dismissed claims that she was on the verge of selling one of the properties, a hotel, terming the allegation baseless.

According to Milcah, Marriott Hotel, located along the Eldoret-Kapsabet highway, had been put up for sale by a microfinance lending institution over a Sh30 million loan taken by the deceased and which was yet to be repaid.

On the morning of October 8, 2022, Chepkut collapsed at his house and was rushed to Mediheal Hospital in Nairobi, where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased was surviving on one kidney, which was donated in 2002 by his sister, whom he later helped to secure employment at the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Chepkut’s other two wives have been identified as Dassie Ambassie and Betsy Birgen.

Milcah’s co-wives are battling for an equal share of the deceased’s estate, estimated to be worth more than Sh400 million, accusing her of excluding them as beneficiaries.

The two widows have protested against the decision by their co-wife not to recognise them as dependants and beneficiaries of the deceased’s property, which spans Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties.

At the centre of the legal battle are assets that include residential houses in Nairobi, parcels of agricultural land, commercial plots and two hotels located on the outskirts of Eldoret City.

In 2019, media reports indicated that the former MP was at risk of losing his Royalton Hotel in Uasin Gishu after defaulting on loan payments of about Sh10 million.

William Chepkut thrust himself into the public limelight after defeating William Chekong’a to win the Ainabkoi parliamentary seat during the 2017 elections.

Chepkut will be remembered as a lively person who maintained a close connection with the electorate. He was hospitalised in a Nairobi hospital on October 13, 2021, after falling and sustaining injuries.

“In July, I missed a step at the hotel and rolled down several metres to the ground. I fainted and was rushed to Nairobi Hospital, where I received treatment and was discharged,” he said in a previous interview with this writer.

Two accidents

He returned to Kenya and continued carrying out his duties, ignoring doctors’ recommendations for surgery. His situation worsened after he was involved in two accidents.

“I took it lightly, returned home, and then proceeded to Uganda for other duties. But in a shocking twist of fate, around the same time, I suffered two other accidents that totally grounded me,” he added.

The politician later flew to Dubai for further examination, after which doctors recommended surgery to treat his knee.

Chepkut’s early life was spent in the shadows as personal assistant to the equally shadowy Biwott, the powerful Kanu-era Cabinet Minister whom Kenyans nicknamed the ‘Total Man’, while his Kalenjin people referred to him as ‘Kirgit’, meaning steel.

In the interview, the former MP opened up about his health struggles, which he attributed to family divisions.

He revealed during Biwott’s burial that the former powerful Cabinet Minister had planned to meet two former Cabinet Secretaries before his death.

Chepkut, who kept the former Kanu leader’s diary, said Biwott had scheduled a meeting with former Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and former Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter.

According to Chepkut, Biwott had wanted to discuss “undisclosed details” concerning his vast business empire with the government officials.

Chepkut, who spoke at Biwott’s Toot home, where his former boss was buried, mourned him as having been more like a father who even encouraged him to join politics.

“I’ve lost a close friend and a father,” Chepkut bemoaned.

The former MP had survived a food-poisoning incident a year earlier while working as Biwott’s personal assistant.

Known for his immaculate dressing style, with three-piece suits becoming his trademark, Chepkut used to describe himself as the ‘only soul alive’, to the amusement of his supporters whenever he rose to speak. He coined the phrase because he had survived food poisoning.

Public connection

While serving as MP between 2017 and 2022, Chepkut never hesitated to share details of his engagements with his constituents on social media. While traversing the constituency, he preferred using a motorbike as his mode of transport.

He attended funeral ceremonies and mourned with the bereaved. Chepkut was also a regular presence at church functions, where he worshipped alongside locals.

When not attending events, the MP was at ease making impromptu visits to homesteads, where he readily shared a cup of tea with hosts, regardless of the humble nature of their homes. At times, he could be pictured sitting on the ground amidst a group of residents while deeply engaged in conversation.

Chepkut was known for his funny punchlines, which were accompanied by his signature serious demeanour. While everyone was left in stitches by his funny side, the MP would remain unfazed.

His financial and family affairs have since returned to the spotlight, as Eldoret High Court proceedings have revealed a bitter succession dispute over his estate.

The succession case has lifted the lid on Chepkut’s financial affairs, which were less visible during his political career.

Born in 1970 in Fluorspar, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Chepkut pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Jabalpur University in India between 1992 and 1995. He later furthered his education at Kenyatta University, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Community Development and Organisation.

His attempt to retain his seat in the August 9, 2022 General Election on an independent ticket was unsuccessful, as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wave swept him out of office.