Barnabas Arap Kiprono, who is seeking almost Sh1 billion in accrued interest to the family of the late Nicholas Biwott told the Nairobian that he can withdraw the lawsuit he has lodged against his family.
“I am ready to withdraw the lawsuit against the heirs of Nicholas Biwott if they agree to come to the negotiating table as I seek to recover the money I lent the patriarch,” the publicity shy Kiprono said to be in his early 60s told The Nairobian, adding that he had approached Biwott’s family before his death and told them of their soft loan arrangement running into millions.
“I am not making wild claims against Biwott since he has been a bosom friend but I have been pushed to the wall by the heirs especially the wife in the suit who has persistently shown me a deaf ear. There was a time they slammed the gate on my face when I sought to serve them a copy of the application I had filed in court,” said Lodwar.
He disclosed that he advanced the huge sum of money to Biwott through various bank accounts associated with his companies while other amounts he gave him personally in cash form and all his close associates know that I gave him this money.
“I remember there was a day the late Biwott asked me to purchase a machine for his Sisibo Tea Factory in Flax area. This is part of the money I am claiming and I can prove it in court if it will get to that,” he added.
He further alleged that Biwott had confided to him he wanted to use part of the amount to repair tea processing machines and clear some debts.
Lodwar said he is willing to withdraw the lawsuit on condition that the family of Biwott agrees to embrace alternative dispute resolution approach.
“I am a Keiyo elder and understand customs and culture of the community in regard to a dispute with a fellow clansman like the deceased. Let the family plainly come to the negotiating table and this matter will be solved amicably, I don’t want controversies especially with my friend’s family,” observed Lodwar who hails from Tabare village in Keiyo South but has since moved to Ainabkoi in Uasin Gishu County.
