Akothee forgives sister Cebbie Koks after years of public feud

Musician and entrepreneur Esther Akoth, widely known as Akothee, has publicly forgiven her younger sister, Elseba Awuor, known as Cebbie Koks, after years of a bitter and highly publicised fallout.

In an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, Akothee said she had chosen to let go of the pain and resentment for the sake of her freedom, mental 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. 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," she wrote.

Akothee said her decision comes even though her sister has never publicly acknowledged her wrongs or attempted to repair the damage.

She spoke of years of betrayal masked behind laughter and silence, carried in the name of love and family.

The fallout between the sisters came into the spotlight in 2020 after leaked messages appeared to show Cebbie claiming Akothee was broke and pretending to be rich on social media.

Akothee expressed deep hurt over the betrayal, saying some family members became distant after she stopped offering financial support.

Tensions escalated when both sisters planned weddings around the same time.

Akothee said Cebbie spread rumours accusing her of using her wedding to overshadow hers. As a result, Akothee did not attend her sister’s ceremony, despite having raised and supported her since childhood.

Still, the two showed signs of reconciliation in 2023 when they briefly united to defend their family from online attacks.

Akothee recalled allowing her sister back into her life without ever telling her how much she had been hurt.

"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," she said.

Akothee also reflected on their early bond and her role in introducing Cebbie to fame, which she believes changed how her sister viewed her.

"You spoke of me in ways that cut deeper than any stranger ever could," she said.

She insisted that her love for her younger sister never faded, despite the pain.

"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.

Even so, Akothee admitted that the emotional weight of the broken relationship remained heavy and that she had long waited for her sister to accept responsibility.