Former and late President Daniel Moi’s grandson Collins Kibet Toitich has been sentenced to seven days in prison for disobeying court orders.
Kibet was arrested on Wednesday, September 18 in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County after being on the run for 7 months.
Collins Kibet was facing a contempt charge from a child-upkeep case that dates back in 2021 and was reported to have been working with informants and police insiders to evade arrest.
In a ruling made on Thursday, September 19, a Nakuru Court jailed him for seven days.
Kibet who is accused of defying court orders to support his two children, went into hiding following several court summonses.
Despite warrant for his arrest, he successfully evaded legal consequences, raising concerns about his ability to avoid accountability.
This prompted Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion to issue an arrest warrant on April 30.
Since the court’s ruling in June 2022, the expenses for the children had totaled Ksh2.2 million in May 2024, a sum that Kibet’s ex-wife, Gladys Jeruto, was seeking to recover.
Why Collins Kibet was Arrested
Kibet is accused of abandoning his children in 2012, leaving his co-parent to shoulder the burden of their upbringing.
Jeruto told the court that they lived together for four years between 2008 and 2012 where they were blessed with the two minors.
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During a past trial, DNA testing was conducted to confirm paternity after Mr. Kibet attempted to deny fathering the children, who are now aged 14 and 12.
The test revealed that he was the biological father of the minors.
In February this year, the court heard that Jeruto was the one paying the school fees and taking care of the minors’ medical and entertainment expenses which, she claims had been causing her much loss as well as financial strain.
“Despite being aware of his parental responsibilities, the respondent has failed, neglected, ignored and refused to pay school fees and cater for school-related expenses together with the entertainment needs as ordered by the court, thus forcing the plaintiff to cater for those needs in addition to the responsibilities allocated to her,” stated Jeruto in her application.
She further claimed to have spent a total of Ksh2.8 million on the children since June 2, 2022, when the court issued the order.
According to the documents filed in court, she has allocated Ksh1.2 million for the children’s education, Ksh600,000 for medical expenses, and Ksh1 million for their entertainment over the past two years.
More Woes Surrounding Moi’s Grandson
Kibet has faced additional challenges, as in 2020 he was evicted from his residential house over rent arrears while embroiled in a court battle with his stepmother and stepbrother concerning the family estate.
The 47-year-old informed the High Court in Milimani on that he was evicted and was living on the streets, unable to provide for himself or his family.
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According to court documents, his rent arrears had accumulated to more than Ksh240,000 for the six months he has failed to pay his landlord.
Collins Kibet expressed his frustration over being excluded from the management of a multi-billion-shilling estate left behind by his father, Jonathan Kipkemboi Moi.
Jonathan passed away on April 20, 2019, and his wealth was estimated to be worth billions after accounting for his share of inheritance from former President Moi’s estate.
Unlike many other tycoons, Jonathan did not prepare a will detailing how his estate should be distributed among his family and dependants.
The administrators of the estate are Sylvia and Clint. Collins said the stepmother and stepbrother didn’t involve him when they obtained the court’s authority to manage the estate.
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