Meet Biwott's daughter Rita, who chose service over billions in riches

When the estate of the late former powerful minister Nicholas Biwott came up for distribution, the expectation was that all his children would take their share of the vast wealth he had accumulated over decades in public life and business.

But one daughter quietly chose a different path: one that would define her legacy not by inheritance, but by service.

Rita Field-Marsham, a Kenyan-born lawyer and humanitarian now based in Canada, formally declined her share of the father’s estate, walking away from family billions to pursue a life grounded in independence, justice, and social impact.

In a deed of disclaimer sworn and filed on December 18, 2017, Rita relinquished her one-fourteenth share of the estate as outlined in a will written by Biwott on January 19, 2017, six months before his death.

“I am named as a beneficiary of a share of the deceased’s estate. I wish to disclaim all my right, title, and interests to the share in the deceased’s estate,” she stated.

In choosing purpose over inheritance, Rita Field-Marsham has shown that true wealth lies not in what one receives but in what one builds and gives back.

Rita is one of two daughters born to Johanna, a woman of Dutch origin who married Biwott in 1965.

Her sister, Rhoda Jakobsson, was also among the seven children listed to inherit an equal portion of the estate.

Unlike many high-profile inheritance disputes that play out loudly in public, Rita offered no explanation for her decision. The statement was brief, firm, and final.

Yet, years later, despite rejecting one of Kenya’s most talked-about inheritances, Rita Field-Marsham has built an extraordinary career and global reputation rooted in legal excellence, philanthropy, and community empowerment.

Her journey demonstrates that privilege does not have to define purpose, that walking away from wealth can sometimes open the door to deeper impact.

Trained as a lawyer, Rita began her professional career in Kenya’s private sector as the founder of Field-Marsham & Co Advocates.

She later joined the executive arm of government as a prosecuting counsel at the State Law Office before transitioning into legal aid, where she offered pro bono services at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Those early years shaped her worldview.

“Access to justice, education, and health is what determines whether talent is wasted or nurtured,” she has often said.

In 2004, Rita joined the leadership of the Kenya Scholar Access Program (KenSAP) as a director.

Today, KenSAP is recognised as one of Africa’s most prestigious college-access initiatives. Registered in the United States and Canada, the programme has, over 19 years, helped 257 gifted but low-income Kenyan students gain admission to elite universities such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, and Stanford on full financial aid.

What began as a small effort to support students from Kenya’s Rift Valley has evolved into a nationally and internationally inclusive programme, drawing students from across Kenyan communities and refugee populations.

“KenSAP is not just about getting students into great universities,” Rita notes. “It is about developing future leaders who will return home committed to Kenya’s progress.”

Education remains the cornerstone of her life’s work.

In 2009, she founded Knowledge Empowering Youth (KEY), a pioneering charitable organisation that designs and implements turnkey public school libraries in Kenya.

At the time, it was the first initiative of its kind in the country.

KEY libraries, built from refurbished shipping containers, renovated classrooms, or new structures, are tailored to the specific needs of each community.

Beyond books and technology, the programme actively involves students, teachers, and parents to ensure sustainability and meaningful use.

“Books open worlds. When children are given spaces that inspire curiosity and confidence, they begin to see themselves as global citizens,” Rita says.

Today, KEY libraries stand as vibrant hubs of literacy and creativity in schools that once lacked basic learning resources.

Her impact extends beyond education and into health and global storytelling. In 2011, Rita co-founded Glorious & Free Inc., a Canadian-based social venture.

Among the initiatives it has supported is the Ghana-SickKids Paediatric Nurse Training Program, an intensive, accredited one-year programme developed with SickKids Hospital, the University of Ghana, Ghana Health Services, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

In its first three years, the programme trained 223 nurses, marking the first paediatric nursing programme of its kind in West Africa.

Key roles

Its long-term goal is to train up to 1,500 nurses, strengthening child healthcare systems in regions where nurses are often the only available medical professionals.

“Investing in nurses is investing in children’s futures. Strong health systems begin with skilled, confident professionals on the front lines,” Rita says.

Glorious & Free is also the title of a celebrated 396-page coffee-table book published to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Profiling 37 remarkable Canadians, from Paralympic champions and poets to activists and veterans, the book celebrates freedom of expression, resilience, and authenticity. “We wanted to tell stories that go beyond clichés,” she explains. “Stories of courage, adversity, and authenticity.”

Rita has also served in key governance roles, including as a founding governor of the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in 2016 and a founding board member of the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation in 2017.

Earlier, she served on the board of the Young Patrons’ Circle at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Her commitment to community development is further reflected in projects linked to Kenya Fluorspar in the Kerio Valley, where investments in healthcare, education, clean water and sports transformed lives in one of Kenya’s most remote regions.

“Sustainable change happens when people are given tools, trust and a chance to dream,” the daughter of one Kenya’s richest men says.