Jackson Kibor: The fearless tycoon who spoke truth to power

Mzee Jackson Kiprotich Kibor rose from humble beginnings to become a respected farmer, family man and politician. But his life was never short of controversy as illustrated by his many court battles.

His rise to fame could be described as grass to grace. With patience and humility, he knew the kind of man he wanted to become.

Mzee Kibor did not go to school due to lack of fees. But this did not stop the gates of success from opening wide for him because of his many achievements, leading him to brush shoulders with the high and mighty.

From doing menial work to large-scale farming; real estate investment to joining murky politics, Kibor managed to distinguish himself as one of the county’s more successful individuals.

A towering figure, Kibor was an amiable soul to be with. His husky voice and humour made him a good debater and he always drew crowds when he spoke in public.

Born in Kipkabus, Uasin Gishu County, in 1934, Kibor never knew his father who died when he was an infant.

Kibor’s mother moved with him to Nandi County where he was enrolled in school. Misfortune struck again when he lost his mother at the age of six.

“Honestly speaking, I am not a schooled chap as you may expect. But I was bright in school. I used to take poles and firewood for fees but while in Standard Five, they insisted on us paying cash, which I did not have. I dropped out for not raising Sh3 at Lelmokwo Primary School,” he told The Standard in an earlier interview.

He added: “I began collecting wattle tree barks and sold them because I did not have an employment ticket. After several years of working, I secretly learnt how to drive company lorries until I was approved.”

With his new driving skills, the youthful Kibor embarked on a journey that would define his success.

He quit his job of collecting tree barks and started transporting potatoes to local markets and across the border to neighbouring Uganda.

Kibor was hired by a wealthy businessman and farmer in Uasin Gishu, Jonathan Kibogy, and later by Chirchir Masit, another wealthy businessman from Chepkorio in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Shrewd businessman

He proved to be a shrewd businessman, for besides transporting his employer’s potatoes, he would buy extra bags that he sold on the side.

“I used to buy a bag of potatoes at Sh6 per bag in Chepkorio and Metkei from brokers. In Kampala I would sell a bag at Sh16. I saved the profits, which I used to buy my own truck after a few years,” said Kibor.

He recalled that besides driving around East Africa, he also transported maize using the cargo train from Kipkabus and Ainabkoi to Uganda.

His entrepreneurial skills were blooming. After saving Sh35,000 in the 1960s he went to a land bank and borrowed Sh55,000.

“I used the amount to invest in a block of land measuring 840 acres in Kipkabus where I embarked on agricultural activities, including maize and dairy farming,” he recalled, adding that it was during this period that he married his first wife, Mary.

With the farm turning a profit, Kibor repaid the loan and in 1969, he invested another Sh220,000 on a second parcel of land measuring 1,600 acres at Kabenes.

In the 1970s, Kibor would pay Sh1.5 million for another 1,200 acres in Kitale where he kept 500 Friesian cows before purchasing 400 acres in Moiben for Sh12 million.

Kibor owned homes in the posh Elgon View estate in Eldoret town, and at Chepkoilel. He also built houses in each of his expansive farms where he cultivated maize and wheat on a large scale and also practiced dairy farming.

Kibor, a polygamist, married four wives who bore him 26 children (15 sons and 11 daughters).

Mary Kibor, the first wife, died in 2010. She had eight children (five daughters and three sons).

He married Josephine Jepkoech on February, 27, 1965. She has eight children (four sons and four daughters).

The third wife, Naomi Jeptoo, married Kibor in 1975 and bore him six sons.

Kibor married his fourth wife in 2002 with whom he had four children (two sons and two daughters.)

He divorced Josephine in 2017 before divorcing Naomi one year later. He told the court in both instances that the marriages were ‘irretrievable’.

During a much-publicised feud with six of his sons in 2020, Kibor disowned them and demanded they do DNA tests.

His controversial stance on family and relationships gained notoriety online, and in 2020 he addressed a ‘men-only’ conference in Eldoret town.

He called on men to be strong and defend their rights even in old age. This is where he gained his title of men’s conference chairman.

Away from family life and business, Kibor wielded authority in positions he occupied in society. He was at one time chairman of ruling party Kanu for Uasin Gishu District.

He also served as an elected councillor for the defunct Wareng County Council that was folded into present-day Uasin Gishu County.

He was influential and praised for overseeing gradual social, economic, and political development of the region.

Kibor ventured into local politics and in 1974 he was elected councillor of Kipkabus Ward where he served for one term. He moved to Soy Ward where he served for three straight terms.

At the height of Kanu rule, a number of politicians from Rift Valley were considered to be the powers behind the throne. Kibor was among them.

Other power brokers included Nicholas Biwott, Abraham Kiptanui, Hosea Kiplagat, Mark Too, and Ezekiel Barng’etuny.

They were the influential and fearless links between the electorate and Kanu leadership. They could call meetings of leaders in respective districts–present-day counties.

So organised was the leadership that every district head of department would give a report under the District Focus for Rural Development that ensured the implementation of programmes at the grassroot levels.

Civic leaders, elected MPs, district commissioners and opinion leaders would attend the meetings where various aspects of development were deliberated for implementation.

Throughout President Daniel Moi’s 24-year rule, these powerful men fought political battles for Independence party Kanu and faithfully protected the presidency. They had the president’s ear, and the electorate also listened to them.

In a past interview, Kibor said there was a huge difference between power brokers of his era and present-day influential leaders.

Kibor, who fell out with Kanu and former President Moi for demanding that he (Moi) names his successor, said current leaders ‘lacked the courage to speak the truth’ when advising those in power.

“In my life, I have achieved all a man can strive for. I had two remaining tasks yet to be accomplished; to be baptised, and to wait for the end of my time in this world,” he said after his baptism in Eldoret last year.

He was baptised at Boma Inn Hotel’s swimming pool in Eldoret before proceeding to his Elgon View home for the Lord’s table in accordance with the African Inland Church rules.

The baptismal ceremony was presided over by retired AIC Bishop Rev Silas Yego and witnessed by Kibor’s youngest wife, Yunita, some of his children and close friends.