Moi’s Bridge: The Rising Commercial Town at the Intersection of Three Counties and Its Wealthiest Family 

Moi’s Bridge is the second largest urban centre in Uasin Gishu County. It’s a fast-rising commercial hub thanks to flourishing agriculture and recent infrastructural development.

History

The town was initially named Hoey’s Bridge – after a white settler who constructed a bridge over River Nzoia for his oxes to cross. Cecil Hoey was also a skilled lion hunter and settled on the slopes of Cherangani Hills. His residence morphed into a landmark school, the Segero Adventist School.

Hoey practised agriculture and became a prominent figure during the colonial period and even served in the Legislative Council (LegCo). He died in 1956.

In honour of Kenya’s second president, the town was renamed Moi’s Bridge.

Oldest buildings in Moi’s Bridge

The KFA building is one of the oldest structures in this small town. Unfortunately, one of the landmark colonial buildings that used to house Great Rift Shuttle, just a few metres opposite present day Kangaroo Shuttle offices was demolished because it sat on space earmarked for road expansion.

Who owns Moi’s Bridge – Meet the billionaire family

Arguably, the family of the late Simeon Kiptum Choge ranks as the wealthiest in Moi’s Bridge.

Choge, who served three terms as the MP for Aldai Constituency passed away in 2013. His son, Jimmy Choge succeeded him as the MP between 2002 and 2007.

Choge’s Pembeni farm in Moi’s Bridge measures 1017 acres, and sits on an area where an acre goes for around Ksh 2.5 million. The value of this land alone is more than Ksh 2.5 billion.

Mr. Choge had close ties to President Moi, and the former Head of State’s daughter Doris was married to Choge’s son, the late Ibrahim, who was a rally driver.

Ibrahim died in a road accident on June 8, 1998 in an incident his father insisted was murder.

Controversies

Choge was once arrested and charged with the murder of a councillor. He was incarcerated in a Kitale prison as he went through a full trial before being released after he was absolved of the murder.

During referendum campaigns in 2005, Choge also had a brush with the law after his driver drove into a hostile crowd opposed to the politician in an attempt to flee and seriously injured one person.