Politician Jackson Kibor disowns daughter after he's granted divorce from wife of 51 years

A daughter of veteran and controversial politician Jackson Kibor has demanded DNA tests to prove that he is her biological father.

Loise Kibor is a daughter to Kibors second wife Josephine Jepkoech who lost a divorce case with her husband on Friday.

Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa allowed Kibor to divorce Josephine on grounds of cruelty to him.

Kibor had told the court that he married Josephine in 1961 when she was already pregnant and she later gave birth to Loise whom he claims is not his daughter.

I don't recognize her as my daughter and I will not give her anything as inheritance, said Kibor after Fridays ruling.

Kibor, also a renowned farmer, said he would only recognize seven other children she sired with Josephine but not Loise.

But Loise now says she is willing to go with Kibor for a DNA test to prove she is his daughter

I am ready that we go for DNA tests anywhere and publicly to prove that Kibor is my biological father, said Loise.

She said the test must be done in a public hospital with independent medics who cannot be influenced by the wealthy businessman.

Loice was an aspirant for Uasin Gishu county women representative seat on Jubilee party ticket.

She said it was wrong for Kibor to disown her yet she was her daughter.

I resemble my dad and he who took care of my education from primary, secondary all the way to university level. It's shocking that he now disowns me after all the time we have been together, Loise who was speaking in Eldoret said.

On Friday, the court in Eldoret dissolved the marriage of Kibor after 51 years.

Obulutsa ordered that their marriage certificate be canceled following a successful divorce case filed by the 83-year-old politician cum businessman.

Obulutsa annulled the marriage on the grounds that Josephine had been proved to be cruel to her husband causing the marriage to be irretrievably broken.

Kibors petition for divorce is granted and the responded (Josephine) has 30 days to appeal, said Obulutsa.

Kibor had accused his wife of cruelty, desertion, interfering with his land at Kipkabus and the court agreed with Kibor on all grounds except desertion which his lawyers could not prove.

The behaviour of the respondent caused the petitioner (Kibor) mental torture and anguish. She was rude and disobedient to him and efforts to have them reconcile cannot work, the court said.

He said things had fallen apart in the marriage and there was no other option than to grant the divorce.

During the hearing, Josephine angrily wailed and shouted at Kibor in court and the magistrate said the behaviour was proof that she could do the same to him at home.

Kibor also proved that they had not lived together for more than 14 years and he was thus denied her conjugal rights.

Kibor expressed joy at the decision by the court saying, At my age, I can die very fast if I am disturbed. But now that the court has removed her from my life I think I will even live longer, said Kibor.

Kibor said since she had lived with her for more than 51 years he would give her 10 acres of land and build a house for her in appreciation.

She will live on that land I will give her as my neighbour and even in case of death we do not need to recognize each other in any way other than people who knew each other or as neighbours, said Kibor. Josephine was represented by lawyer Amos Magut.

The politician said Josephine can choose to live with Loise but he will not recognize both of them.

Kibor said Josephine had been living on his 800 acres land but she put a caveat on it on false grounds that he intended to sell it.

The land was mine and she did not come with it when I married her, said Kibor. He said Josephine had gone ahead to sell more than 50 acres of the land yet the title was in his name.

I gave her 300 head of cattle and more than 100 goats, lorries and other assets all of which she sold out without my consent, Kibor said.

He was represented by lawyer Waziri Omollo in the case.

The court said Josephine had accepted that she gave out the land to two people.

Kibor also complained that she had deserted her and quite often travelled to Canada to live there wither her children.

As per Kalenjin tradition my wife is to supposed to get authority from me if she has to travel but she ignored me and went without my authority, said Kibor.

The politician also told the court that she married Josephine when she was pregnant and gave birth to a child from another man. They later got seven children with her and Kibor said he would only recognize the seven and give them land.

The court, however, ruled that the politician had not proved claims of desertion because she was polygamous and chose on his own to live with his younger wife Yunita.

I am happy that I will now enjoy my life without disturbance from herself, said Kibor. Kibor has three other wives one of whom is deceased.

Courtesy Mathews Ndanyi