In a raw, emotional turn of events, Kenyan music icon, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Esther Akoth Kokeyo, better known as Akothee, has extended an olive branch to her estranged younger sister, Elseba Awuor, popularly known as Cebbie Koks.
The dramatic and long-standing rift between the two sisters has captivated fans and fueled headlines for years, but on Thursday morning, Akothee revealed that she had made the “bold and scary” decision to forgive Cebbie — not because she owed her an apology, but for the sake of her own peace and their mother’s happiness.
“It’s taken me years of silence, of deep self-work, and painful maturity to understand what forgiveness truly means,” Akothee wrote on Instagram. “It is not weakness, it is power… I have chosen to forgive you. Yes — I have forgiven you, Elseba. Cebbie Koks.”
The feud between the sisters spilled into the public in 2020 after leaked messages showed Cebbie allegedly claiming that Akothee was financially unstable and “faking wealth” on social media. At the time, Akothee expressed heartbreak, suggesting her success had attracted resentment from family members.
The tension escalated in 2022, when Akothee claimed Cebbie accused her of planning her wedding to overshadow her sister’s own nuptials. Feeling unwelcome, Akothee skipped the wedding, despite having been a major part of Cebbie’s life — including funding her education and introducing her to the world of fame.
“You spoke of me in ways that cut deeper than any stranger ever could,” Akothee wrote. “You threw me to the world without armor. I stood alone, battling narratives I never wrote, while you — my own blood — watched, spoke, and walked away.”
Despite years of silence and emotional scars, Akothee’s post revealed a deep longing for her sister’s presence and the bond they once shared.
“Still, I cannot lie — I missed you. I missed my sister. The one who was once my friend,” she confessed.
Akothee likened Cebbie to a rebellious child lost in the applause of fame, saying she always viewed her with love, even when the world saw them as enemies.
“I only saw you as a child who had lost their way in the noise of applause. But I never stopped loving you.”
In a final, powerful note, Akothee extended a hand — not just in forgiveness, but in partnership for healing. She urged Cebbie not to pretend nothing happened, but to confront their past with honesty and courage.
“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.”
Though Cebbie has yet to respond publicly, fans and followers have flooded the post with messages of support, celebrating Akothee’s emotional maturity and courage to choose family over pride.
The public may have watched their feud like a soap opera, but now, it seems, a new chapter of sisterhood may finally be beginning — one of healing, truth, and renewed love.
