Businesswoman Esther Passaris shakes hand with attendants during requiem mass of the late powerful minister Nicholas Biwott, at the AIC Milimani in Nairobi, July 18, 2017. [Photo: @EstherPassaris]
The requiem mass of the late powerful minister Nicholas Biwott, is currently underway.Friends, family and associates have gathered at the AIC Milimani in Nairobi for the service, which is also being attended by businesswoman Esther Passaris, who is eyeing the Nairobi Woman Rep seat, former Westlands MP Nicholas Gumbo, among other leaders.Friends and family members are eulogising the late Biwott, whose body will be traveled to Elgeyo Marakwet, for burial, Wednesday.President Uhuru Kenyatta will attend the funeral service, Thursday, July 20.
Born 1940, Nicholas Kipyator Kiprono arap Biwott died July 11, after long illness.He was a power broker 'feared' across Kenya for his alleged role in the murder of Robert Ouko, a highly regarded and respected Kenyan politician. Biwott served as a civil servant, Member of Parliament and government minister, during which time he amassed immense wealth as a result of his proximity and influence in the repressive government of Daniel Moi.Biwott was born in Chebior village, Keiyo District, Rift Valley Province, to Cheserem Soti, a market trader and cattle herder in Eldoret, and Maria Soti. He attended Tambach Intermediate School from 1951 to 1954, after which he joined Kapsabet High School.Biwott was a member of parliament for 28 years. In 1974 he ran unsuccessfully as a prospective MP for the Keiyo South Constituency. At the next election in 1979 he was successful, standing on KANU ticket in Keiyo-Marakwet, retaining the seat in 1983 and 1988. In 1992, 1997, and 2002 he was elected the MP for Keiyo South Constituency. In the Parliamentary elections held on 27 December 2007, running on a KANU ticket, he lost his seat to Jackson Kiptanui arap Kamai of the Orange Democratic Party (ODM). The ODM swept to victory in all but one of KANU's seats on the Rift Valley.