Musician, philanthropist and businesslady Esther Akoth Kokeyo, popular as Akothee, has burried the hatchet and chosen to unconditionally forgive her younger sister, Elseba Awuor, with whom she has been at odds for several years now.
Awuor, popularly known as Cebbie Koks in social circles, has had ice relationship with Akothee marked by allegations of betrayal and deep-seated animosity.
In an Instagram post early Thursday, Akothee said she had chosen to take "the bold and scary step" for the sake of her own peace and that of their mother.
"It’s taken me years of silence, of deep self-work, and painful maturity to understand what forgiveness truly means. It is not weakness, it is power. And for the sake of my freedom, my mental health, and the joy of our mother, I have chosen to forgive you. Yes — I have forgiven you, Elseba. Cebbie Koks."
Akothee said she had chosen to do so even though Cebbie had neither owned up to her faults nor "publicly corrected the damage".
The musician revealed that she had nursed wounds of betrayal in silence for years, wounds she said she covered with smiles, laughter and silence — all in the name of love, family, and peace.
The initial strain in the relationship between the sisters became public in 2020 when leaked messages revealed Cebbie alleging that Akothee was financially unstable and faking her wealth on social media.
Akothee responded by expressing disappointment, stating that some family members harboured resentment due to her success and had become distant after she stopped providing financial support.
The situation worsened when Akothee announced her wedding plans around the same time as Cebbie's wedding.
Akothee claimed that Cebbie spread rumors suggesting her wedding was a ploy to overshadow hers.
Feeling unwelcome, Akothee chose not to attend Cebbie's wedding, despite having supported her in various ways, including educating her from a young age.
But despite the disputes that played out in the full glare of the public, the sisters briefly reunited in 2023 to defend their family against online criticism, indicating that reconciliation was in the decks.
"I welcomed you back without telling you how deeply your actions bruised me. How you threw me to the world without armor. How I stood alone, battling narratives I never wrote, while you — my own blood — watched, spoke, and walked away," Akothee recalled with nostalgia.
"You see, I saw you through life. I introduced you to a world of fame you were never prepared for, and sadly, you let that world shape how you saw me — your sister. You spoke of me in ways that cut deeper than any stranger ever could," she added.
Despite the rift, Akothee emphasised that the deep bond she shares with her little sister who she protected with the same zeal as her own children, never fizzled out and she never really stopped loving Cebbie.
"I only saw you as a rebellious child — one who had lost their way in the noise of applause. Still, I cannot lie — I missed you. I missed my sister. The one who was once my friend," she said.
Regardless of this resolve, Akothee acknowledged that the years of tumultuous relationship with Cebbie weighed heavily on her.
She said she waited with bated breath for her sister to own up to her mistakes and tell the world that she was wrong.
"But ego is a stubborn beast — it cannot speak the language of empathy," Akothee said.
She invited Cebbie to walk with her as she heals and rebuilds her life again - piece by piece.
"Let us not pretend nothing happened. Let us not sweep betrayal under the rug and call it peace. Let’s be bold enough to face the ghosts. To call them by name. To cry. To heal," she said.
