In Biwott's funeral the family stood up to tell the world what a great man he was. In Nkaissery's funeral the world came to tell the family what a great man he was.

The Biwott-lets, the children...



Biwott’s children Manu, Gloria, Klara, Rita, Rhoda and Esther

In Biwott's funeral the family stood up to tell the world what a great man he was. In Nkaissery's funeral the world came to tell the family what a great man he was.

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. He is now regarded as one of Kenya's wealthiest businessmen.

Biwott's businesses in Kenya employ thousands of people and one company of which he is the major shareholder, has for many years been listed among Kenya's top 10 corporate taxpayers.

Hannie recounted how she was surprised in the 1990s when Mr Biwott was accused of murder and corruption.

Mr Biwott was linked to the murder of former Foreign Affair Minister Robert Ouko.

He was also adversely mentioned in the infamous Goldenberg scandal.

He denied playing any role in Ouko's death and the mega scam that almost brought Kenya's economy to its knees.

"I told him to buy space in a newspaper and defend himself but he declined, saying that it was above his dignity to fight back," she said.

While at the university with Biwott in Australia, she said, she knew Biwott as a man of high moral principles.

She said she regretted negative publicity of her husband in the media.