A court in Eldoret has sentenced Albert Kibor, the son of the late prominent farmer and politician Jackson Kibor, to three years in prison after finding him guilty of assault.
The sentence was delivered by Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ireri, who ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. The court ordered that Albert serve the jail term without the option of paying a fine.
Details of the Assault Case
According to court documents, the incident occurred on March 8 last year at Kibor Building in Turbo Sub-County.
Albert was accused of jointly assaulting Faith Jemutai, the sister of Eunita Kibor, who is the younger wife of the late Jackson Kibor.
Prosecutors told the court that the assault caused the victim actual bodily harm.
During the trial, Albert asked the court for leniency, saying he had never been involved in criminal activity before and had family responsibilities.
“Your honour, this is the first time I am accused because I am always a peaceful person. I plead for forgiveness from the court,” he told the magistrate.
Court Relied on Witness Testimony
However, Magistrate Ireri noted that the offence was serious and that the prosecution had presented six witnesses whose testimony supported the case.
The incident is linked to a succession dispute surrounding the vast estate of the late Jackson Kibor, estimated to be worth more than Sh6 billion.
The Kibor family has been involved in a prolonged legal battle over the division of the property following his death.
What Happened During the Incident
Evidence presented in court showed that tensions escalated when Albert allegedly attempted to evict tenants from Kibor Building, accusing them of paying rent to Eunita Kibor despite an existing court order.
Faith Jemutai, who worked as a caretaker at the property, told the court that she was violently attacked during the confrontation.
“They hit me several times and dragged me on the floor violently. They even uprooted my braids, causing me serious pain,” she testified.
She also presented uprooted braids and a torn jacket as evidence of the alleged assault.
Albert denied the allegations throughout the trial, claiming the accusations were fabricated and exaggerated in an attempt to frame him.
At one stage, the court directed the parties to try mediation, but the talks collapsed after both sides failed to reach an agreement. The case then proceeded to a full hearing.
Following the sentencing, Albert told journalists that his legal team plans to appeal the ruling in a higher court.
Tags
News