Jonathan Toroitich's Sh30 million estate cast light on internal distribution of the Moi Family wealth

Court documents in the estate of the late Jonathan Toroitich - first son to former President Daniel arap Moi - have revealed the distribution of wealth in reclusive high-profile family.

Jonathan, or JT as he was popularly known, died in April this year after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

His death at a low-profile hospital in Nakuru had sparked curiosity from those who are aware of the family's immense wealth.

JT's modest means have, however, been confirmed by the succession case regarding his estate.

The document shows Moi's first son was worth a mere Sh30 million including a piece of land in Nairobi's Industrial Area valued at Sh15 million, shares at Tiro Holdings valued at Sh10 million, and a Sh5 million stake at Nakuru Oil Mills.

While Sh30 million is not a modest value in a country where a significant number of people live below poverty line, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the entire Moi family estate valued in hundreds of billions of shillings.

Gideon, despite being the youngest son, has an empire estimated to be worth Sh70 billion while past reports have estimated Philip to be worth Sh50 billion.

There have been reports of poor relations between President Moi and his first son, Jonathan, who was closer to his mother Lena Moi - who also died in relatively poor conditions in 2004. Unlike the other Moi children, Jonathan used the surname, Toroitich which was passed to his wife and children.

JT's estate will be under temporary custody of his widow Silvia Toroitich while his brother's Gideon and Philip will serve as guarantors and have each put a Sh15 million guarantee in case the widow mismanages the estate.

The documents filed at the High Court make no reference to twin brothers Gerald Kipkosgei Toroitich and Geoffrey Kipkurui - who emerged after his death alleging that they were his sons.

The two had been staying at Kabimoi Farm where Jonathan's mother, Lena, lived until her death.

The sour relationship between President Moi and his elder children is not only a subject of rumor mills but was confirmed in his authorized biography - Moi: The Making Of An African Statesman.

“Moi had little joy from his family… Those who know the family well observe that with the possible exception of Gideon and June, the President felt disappointed and rather let down by his children,” the British author said.

Morton further wrote that the differences among the Mois could be traced back to the separation between the elder Moi and the mother of his children – Lena Moi.

The couple divorced in 1974 when most of the children were in their teens with the exception of Gideon and Doris (adopted daughter) who were too young to comprehend the divorce.

All the elderly children (Jennifer, Jonathan, Raymond, John Mark, Doris and her twin Philip) chose to remain with their mother who had raised them when Moi was mostly absent due to the demands of public life.

“This combination of absence and sternness produced the inevitable backlash, and as adolescents, the boys rebelled against their father,” the biographer observed.