Former President Daniel arap Moi’s grandson Collins Kibet has been committed to a civil jail term, for contempt of a court order.
Mr Kibet, who is the son to Moi’s eldest son the late Jonathan Toroitich, is being sentenced to prison for the second time, over his failure to comply with a court order to support his two children.
The court order issued by a Nakuru Court on February 13, directed Mr Kibet to enrol his children to Kabarak schools, as well as Kabarak Health Care Centre Medical Scheme, for medical insurance cover.
However, the court issued a warrant of arrest on May 8, after he absconded the court date without complying with the orders.
He was arrested on Thursday in Rongai sub-County before he was transferred to Nakuru Central Police Station, where he spent the weekend.
When he was produced before court on Monday, Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion directed that Mr Kibet be committed to a civil jail term for two days, until Wednesday when the court will determine whether he should be punished to serve a six-month jail term for non-compliance with the court order.
“I have heard both parties and the issue of notice to show cause will be deliberated on July 9. In the meantime, the judgment debtor shall be committed to civil jail term for the period. The decree-holder shall facilitate,” ruled Mr Kibelion.
This is the second time Mr Kibet has been sent to jail for not complying with the orders to provide for his children after he was detained last year for seven days.
On Monday, the court expressed disappointment in Moi’s scion conduct of disobeying orders, despite being given warnings on the repercussions of such actions.
Mr Collins Kibet Toroitich Moi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Kibet has consistently maintained his inability to provide for the children, citing lack of employment and his own basic needs.
However, his recent detention comes weeks after Moi’s family agreed on the distribution of the former president’s vast estate.
The family on June 5, agreed to share out the properties identified in Mzee Moi’s Will, which include land parcels in Nakuru and an undisclosed amount of money in the bank.
Before his death on February 4, 2020, Mzee Moi had written a Will on November 15, 2005, and amended it on March 30, 2010.
The Will listed 2300 acres of Land in Kabarak, Nakuru County and two others in Moi’s bridge, Eldoret and Nairobi that was to be shared among his five sons namely Jonathan, Philip, Raymond, Mark, Philip and Gideon.
Also to be shared equally amongst his sons is his ancestral land, which was to be later transferred to his children.
According to official and non-official records, the family’s business empire spans real estate, transport, education, hotel industry, banking, aviation, manufacturing, media, agri-business, security and construction, among others.
Moi's vast estate includes; assets of various classes in multiple jurisdictions which include the United Kingdom, Australia and Malawi.
Moi’s family is arguably one of the richest in Kenya, based on the business empire it has built over the years, with a net worth estimated to be in excess of $3 billion (about Sh310.2 billion).
This is wealth accumulated before, during and after the former president’s 24-year rule (1978- 2002), with his children, among them, former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi expanding the family dynasty further.
The no-nonsense Kenya’s second president, who ruled the country with an iron fist, remained powerful, with his businesses playing a major role in the economy, years after he left State House.
According to Africa Confidential, a fortnightly newsletter covering politics and economics in Africa, Moi’s capital is also “held in trust by relatives and friends, and in front companies in Kenya, offshore tax havens and several major international banks”.
This includes Union Bank of Switzerland, where the Moi dossier “is treated as a matter tantamount to national security.
The list of property and investments owned or co-owned by the family and its partners is endless, with former Moi’s right-hand man the late Nicholas Biwott’s family being a major investment partner.
His former private secretary Joshua Kulei is another man who has held and run Moi’s multibillion-shilling business empire for decades.
The family has over 100 companies across different sectors, with interests in many other public and privately owned businesses locally, in Africa and overseas.
Among them is Trans-National Bank, Equatorial Bank, First American Bank, Giro Bank ‚ Giant Forex Bureau, Equity Stock Brokers and Sovereign Group.
Collins Kibet, the grandson of former president Daniel Moi, at the Nakuru Law Courts on September 26, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The family owns Standard Group, the parent company to Kenya Television Network (KTN), Standard Newspaper and a number of radio stations, including Radio Maisha.
The development seemed to be a sigh of relief to Moi’s kins some of whom are facing hardships with Mr Kibet being one of them.
Appearing in court earlier Kibet claimed to be unable to support himself and his other families since he was jobless without any income and that was only depending on well-wishers for survival.
The court has however maintained that he needs to obey court orders by showing how he has tried to comply.
