Three widows battle for ex-MP Chepkut's Sh700m estate

Ex MP Wiilliam Chepkut’s widow Dassie Ambassie with her lawyer Ndegwa Kirokuat the High Court in Eldoret on February 6, 2026

The family of the late former Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut is embroiled in a dispute over control of his estate, valued at more than Sh700 million.

The estate, which includes houses in Nairobi as well as land and commercial plots in Eldoret, is at the centre of a family row that has spilt into the courts in Eldoret.

Chepkut’s first wife, Milcah Jepngetich, is batting for the management of the multimillion-shilling estate with her two co-wives.

The other widows, Dassie Ambassie and Betsy Birgen, have protested against what they term a failure by their co-wife to recognise them as dependants and beneficiaries of the estate.

Chepkut passed away on the morning of October 8, 2022, after collapsing at his home in Nairobi.

He had lost his bid to defend the Ainabkoi parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in the 2022 General Election to UDA’s Samwel Chepkonga.

The late politician left behind three widows— Jepngetich, Ambassie and Birgen —and six children. He was a well-known politician, famed for his humour and had previously served as an aide to the late Nicholas Biwott, a former Cabinet minister and Keiyo South MP.

Chepkut owned several parcels of agricultural land in Uasin Gishu county, including two hotels on the outskirts of Eldoret City. Other assets include a residential house in Riverside and another in Westlands, Nairobi county. He also owned several residential plots in Eldoret.

Through their lawyer, Ndegwa Kiroku, Ambassie and Birgen informed Eldoret High Court judge Reuben Nyakundi that Jepngetichwas in the process of selling one of the prime assets of the deceased before the succession matter had been heard and determined.

They were in court on Friday alongside other family members.

“We have been informed that the defendant has placed an advertisement for the sale of the Marriott Hotel along the Eldoret–Kapsabet highway, currently valued at Sh85 million. We ask that you issue orders stopping the sale,” Kiroku said.

According to Ambassie, their co-wife has refused to include the multimillion-shilling hotel in the list of assets owned by their late husband.

Justice Nyakundi was also told that Jepngetich had sold a tree treatment plant in the Kaptagat area and allegedly pocketed the proceeds without involving the other beneficiaries.

Kiroku told the court that one of his clients, Ambassie, was facing financial difficulties in educating her two children, who were at risk of dropping out of school.

“Your Lordship, one child transitioning to Grade 10 risks being sent away due to lack of fees, yet his father’s pension is lying at the National Assembly,” Kiroku said.

He added that the dispute was inconveniencing other family members.

In a rejoinder, Jepngetich dismissed claims that her late husband had another family. Through her lawyer Diana Ndirangu, she told the court that she did not know how the two women demanding a share of the estate came into her husband’s life.

She argued that the women were strangers with no right to the estate.  Jepngetich said in court papers that she was legally married to Chepkut in a church wedding in Eldoret 28 years ago and that they had two children together.

Ndirangu denied claims that her client was planning to sell the Marriott Hotel, terming the allegations baseless.

“The properties my client owned with her husband were jointly acquired, and for anyone to claim a share is totally out of order,” Ndirangu said.

Justice Nyakundi scheduled the next hearing for February 10, 2026.