Chepkut Widows Fight Over Kshs. 400 Million Estate

A bitter succession battle has erupted in the Eldoret High Court over the Sh400 million estate left behind by former Ainabkoi Member of Parliament William Chepkut, as his three widows clash over control and division of his vast properties.

William Chepkut, who served as the MP for Ainabkoi, died on October 8, 2022, after collapsing at his home in Nairobi. He had unsuccessfully contested to retain his seat in the August 2022 elections as an independent candidate, losing to Samuel Chepkonga of the United Democratic Alliance party.

Nearly four years after his passing, the dispute among his widows has reached the courtroom following unsuccessful mediation attempts. Chepkut is survived by three wives: Milcah Jepngetich (also known as Milcah Samoei), Dassie Ambassie, and Betsy Birgen, along with six children from the marriages.

The estate includes several parcels of agricultural land in Uasin Gishu County, two hotels on the outskirts of Eldoret City (one being the Marriott Hotel along the Eldoret-Kapsabet highway, valued at Sh85 million), residential houses in Nairobi's Riverside and Wetlands areas, and multiple high-value plots in Eldoret worth millions of shillings. A treatment plant in the Kaptagat area was reportedly sold earlier, with proceeds allegedly kept by one party.

Dassie Ambassie and Betsy Birgen have accused Milcah Jepngetich, the first wife, of deliberately excluding them from the succession process and handling estate assets unilaterally. They claim Milcah omitted a multi-million-shilling hotel from the official inventory of assets and previously sold the Kaptagat treatment plant while retaining all proceeds without sharing with other beneficiaries.

The two widows further alleged that Milcah placed an advertisement offering the Marriott Hotel for sale despite the ongoing succession case. They sought urgent court orders to halt any such disposal of assets and to grant them access to their share of the estate, citing severe financial hardship. This includes unpaid school fees for Dassie Ambassie's children, with one child facing possible expulsion from school as they transition to Grade 10.

Milcah Jepngetich, who married Chepkut in a church wedding in Eldoret 28 years ago and has two children with him, has strongly denied the accusations. She maintains that the properties were jointly acquired with her late husband and insists that Dassie Ambassie and Betsy Birgen have no legitimate claim, describing them as strangers to the estate. Her side rejects any intent to sell the Marriott Hotel and terms the allegations baseless.

The matter is being heard before Justice Reuben Nyakundi in the Eldoret High Court. Lawyers involved include Ndegwa Kiroku representing Dassie Ambassie and Betsy Birgen, and Diana Ndirangu representing Milcah Jepngetich.

Additionally, the late MP's parliamentary pension remains frozen at the National Assembly due to the unresolved family dispute.

With mediation having failed, the case now heads toward full judicial determination. The next hearing is scheduled for February 10, 2026. The outcome will determine how the Sh400 million empire is divided among the widows and their children.