14/05/2026
Nicholas Kipyator Kiprono arap Biwott, EGH,
Born in 22 February 1940 ,also known as the "Total Man" was a Kenyan businessman, politician, and philanthropist, who worked in the governments of the fathers of Kenyan independence, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi.
He held eight senior civil servant and ministerial positions that included Minister of State (1979–82), Minister of Energy (1984-1985, 1990), Minister of East African and Regional Co-operation (1998–99) and Minister of Regional Development, Science, and Technology (1982).
Biwott was widely regarded as one of the most powerful and competent ministers of president Moi's government. He was also at the forefront of efforts to deepen regional cooperation. Former president Uhuru Kenyatta eulogised Biwott as a "patriot and diligent leader, who spent decades building schools and hospitals and spearheading every other kind of development including marketing Kenya abroad".
Biwott was born in Tot, Chebior village, Elgeyo-Marakwet District in the Rift Valley Province of British Kenya to Maria Soti and Joseph Cheserem Soti, a market trader and cattle herder in Eldoret. He attended Tambach Intermediate School from 1951 to 1954, after which he joined Kapsabet High School.
After finishing secondary school in 1959, Biwott began working at the Department of Information in Eldoret after which he published the Kalenjin monthly newsletter with Kendagor Bett.
He attended the University of Melbourne, Australia, from 1962 to 1964, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science, as well as a Diploma in Public Administration.
Biwott then served as a District Officer in Nkubu in the South Imenti Division of Meru District from 1964 to 1965, becoming one of the first Kenyans to serve in a senior administrative role when Kenya attained independence, returning to the University of Melbourne in 1966 to study for a master's degree in Economics under a Commonwealth scholarship. In his autobiography A Moving Horizon (chapter 2, page 31), Ambassador Francis Muthaura recalls being inspired by Biwott when he saw him as a young district officer in post-independence Kenya, Among the other figures Muthaura highlights from this era is Eliud Mahihu, under whom Biwott served. Mahihu was the first African provincial commissioner of Eastern Province and later of Coast Province during the regime of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. A key ally in the Kenyatta administration, he was present at the president's death in 1978 and played a crucial role in the transition of power to Daniel arap Moi.
During his studies in Australia, Biwott met his Dutch-Australian wife, Hannie Biwott, whom he married in 1965 and with whom he had two children; they remained married until he died in 2017. Biwott had five children from relationships outside his marriage. Details of the parentage of his children, which had previously been the subject of speculation, were clarified following his death through his will, which was made public and published in local dailies.
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 (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.
Following the 2002 election, Biwott served on the Devolution Committee of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. Biwott was the only Member of Parliament who abstained on the Constitutional Referendum held in 2005, stating that the Draft Constitution 'would divide the country along ethnic lines'. The draft Constitution was rejected at the Referendum.
In 2005, Biwott contested for the leadership of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the former ruling party founded by the late Jomo Kenyatta, but lost the post to his son Uhuru Kenyatta following a decision by the Kenyan High Court.
Biwott led an active business life and was regarded as one of Kenya's most successful entrepreneurs.
As a teenager in the late 1950s, Biwott worked alongside his father who had established a successful fruit and vegetable business in Eldoret. The young Biwott also borrowed small amounts of money from a local bank with which to expand his own business sideline selling meat products and eggs. Nicholas Biwott continued to expand his own business and in the late 1960s formed ABC Foods selling food and animal feed products.
Within a few years, Nicholas Biwott was able to invest in farms and businesses, taking advantage of the post-independence banking policies at the time by which Kenyans were granted loans on favourable terms. In 1969, aged 29, Biwott purchased the Eldoret Town International Harvester (IH) dealership (now FMD trading as Lima Ltd). He also purchased a dairy farm in the same year, started an importer exporter business in 1972, purchased two wheat farms in 1974, invested in the sole agency for IH in Kenya for agricultural tractors and implements in 1975, and purchased a local air operator in 1977 (now Air Kenya).Biwott's business philosophy of purchasing small or failing businesses, investing and re-investing in them over many years, appears to have paid dividends. Over time, his portfolio diversified across agribusiness, logistics/aviation and food manufacturing, often growing acquired businesses into long-term operating companies.
Biwott's businesses had thousands of staff across Kenya. One company which he was the major shareholder was listed among Kenya's top 10 corporate taxpayers.
On the morning of 11 July 2017, Biwott died of complications arising from kidney failure at the Nairobi hospital.
A memorial service was held at Milimani AIC on 18 July 2017. On the 20th of July, a second memorial service was held at the Maria Soti Girls Educational Centre Kaptarakwa, in Keiyo, Elgeyo/Marakwet County. Over 20,000 people attended his memorial services.
In the final speech of the funeral, President Uhuru Kenyatta eulogized the late Biwott as a "true patriot". "When the history of this country is written, it will include many men and women in this country who quietly but firmly and confidently are responsible for what Kenya is today – a sound country, a stable country with a growing economy. And Nicholas Biwott is one of those people.
Nicholas Biwott was buried in a wooden casket contrary to some misleading information that circulated in the Kenyan social media space prior to his burial, alleging that he would be buried in a gold coffin.
