Life After Biwott: Where Are the Late Billionaire’s Well-Known Children Now?

Listen to this storyAbout 2 min1×Stop ⤢ Full imageRita Field-Marsham (KEY Trust) and Esther Koimett (Middle East Bank Kenya). Few figures in KANU-era Kenya wielded as much influence as Nicholas Biwott. Known as the “Total Man” during President Daniel arap Moi’s administration, Biwott built a business empire that stretched across real estate, energy, aviation, and agriculture—making him one of the country’s wealthiest and most secretive figures.

Following his passing in July 2017, attention turned to the heirs of his vast fortune. Who Owns Kenya takes a look at where his two well-known children are today and the paths they have taken.

The daughter of former Keiyo South MP Nicholas Biwott and Johanna Catherina Kiprono first drew national headlines when she walked away from her inheritance, leaving her share of her late father’s vast estate to her siblings. Instead, Rita turned her focus to philanthropy through the Knowledge Empowering Youth (KEY) Trust—constructing school libraries and helping bright, underprivileged Kenyan students secure elite North American scholarships through KenSAP.

She leads the foundation alongside her husband, Canadian investor Charles Field-Marsham, and Shop Zetu co-founder Wandia Gichuru.

However, the trust’s public image took a hit after applying to renew its income-tax exemption. Auditing the trust’s accounts, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) flagged over KSh 25 million sent abroad, along with substantial transfers to KenSAP Limited—a related entity chaired by Charles Field-Marsham. The revenue authority also raised concerns over large cash surpluses, unverified trustee remuneration, and whether the trust’s spending strictly served local public benefit.

KRA officially rejected the tax exemption renewal. KEY Trust challenged the decision at the Tax Appeals Tribunal and scored a procedural win when the tribunal struck out late-filed allegations by KRA. However, because the tribunal allowed KRA to re-issue a formal notice, the substantive tax dispute remains wide open.

Esther Koimett, the eldest daughter of the late Nicholas Biwott and Elizabeth Kattar, built a distinguished career in public service, serving as Principal Secretary across key ministries in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

In 2026, disclosures revealed that Koimett emerged as the largest individual shareholder in Middle East Bank Kenya (MEB) after inheriting her father’s stake in the tier-three lender, which was established in 1981.

With a 17.48% stake, she leads the lender’s shareholding structure ahead of major corporate investors, including MEB Holdings Limited (11.58%) and Mustang Limited (10.47%), with Baumann Management Services Limited and Good Fortune Limited each holding 6.6%.

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