Celebrated Men’s Conference Chairman Mzee Jackson Kibor is dead. He died on Wednesday at an Eldoret hospital where he had been receiving treatment over a prolonged Covid-19 complication. Mzee Kibor contracted Covid in late 2020 and had been using medical oxygen ever since.Born at Lelmokwo in Nandi county to very poor parents, Kibor was orphaned after his parents died when he was barely age five.
He dropped out of school in 1957 in Class 5 because he could not pay Sh1.50 per year to continue. He was a herds boy, farmhand and driver.We bring to you an exclusive Interview he gave to the Star before his demise.
“My background was horrible but that is in the past and I have no regrets because that life made me who I am today,” Kibor said.
Today Kibor’s is worth more than Sh6 billion, mainly from vast farms in Rift Valley covering more than 4,500 acres. He has real estate and prime plots in Eldoret, Kapsabet and Nairobi and luxury cars.
He was the only ‘farmer’ who imported six Mercedes-Benz S and C class cars, among other top-of-the-range vehicles.
On the family front, Kibor married four wives – one has died – and he has 26 children, including 16 boys.
Kibor made headlines with his long, salacious and successful divorces against his second and third wives.
After 52 years of marriage, an Eldoret court granted him a divorce from his second wife Josphine Jepkoech in October 2017. In October 18 he was granted a divorce from Naomi Jeptoo, his third wife.
“I was so happy the courts allowed me to part with the two women because they had become a burden in my life. I am happier and even feeling younger,” Kibor said, adding that he will not marry again.
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Eight years ago, he married his fourth wife, Yunita Kibor, who is less than half his age. The December-May marraige was criticised by elders and those he called “Kibor-haters” but he ignored them. Today they have four children.
He worked as a farmhand and driver for Mzee Chirchir Masit and saved Sh35,000 in 1963 to buy 1,200 acres at Kipkabus in Uasin Gishu and later another Sh200,000 to buy 2,000 acres at Soy farm in 1969. Masic, aged over 100, is still alive. Kibor bought another 1,200 acres in Trans Nzoia and 357 acres at Mafuta farm near Moiben, among other assets in the region.
Having been thrown out of Kanu back in the 90’s, Kibor joined opposition politics. He is a staunch supporter of ODM leader Raila Odinga whom he says has worked hard and should be given a chance to lead, even as a ceremonial president.
“I know Odinga as a very wise person who means very well for this country,” Kibor said.
He has met Deputy President William Ruto several times to discuss leadership but says the DP must go slow and be wise if he wants to lead Kenya.
“I once went to Ruto’s home in Eldoret where I told him he should humble himself and be wise if he wants to lead. I regret he is the opposite of that,” the veteran politician said.
He said he decided to attend the men’s conference last February because of many complaints by women that men fail in their family responsibilities, mainly because of heavy drinking.
“I advised the young men you cannot drink yourself silly to the extent of being carried to bed. You claim to be the man of the house yet you just snore and sleep like the dead until the next day,” Kibor said.
Kibor says he drinks one beer a week, eats all kinds of food and stays fit so he can do everything for himself, including driving. Every day he wakes up at 6am to check on his farm and says he likes to work hard on the land. Rest in Peace Mzee Kibor.
