I Have Forgiven You: Akothee’s Heartfelt Letter to Sister Elseba Kokeyo

Kenyan singer and businesswoman Akothee (Esther Akoth) has publicly announced her decision to forgive her younger sister, Elseba Awuor Kokeyo, also known as Cebbie Koks.

In an emotional open letter, Akothee revealed that the forgiveness stems from a desire for her own peace of mind and to be in good standing with their mother, rather than an apology from Elseba.

Akothee recounted their history, acknowledging she introduced Elseba to fame, and expressed the deep hurt caused by their public fallout.

Despite waiting for an admission of wrongdoing which didn’t come, Akothee chose forgiveness to release her anger and invited her sister to walk a path of healing together, emphasizing the need to acknowledge past hurts rather than ignore them.

Here is Akothee’s Full Open Letter to Elseba Awuor Kokeyo,

I WANT MY MOM & ME TO BE AT PEACE SO I TOOK THIS BOLD SCARY STEP

Dear Elseba Awuor Kokeyo,

There are wounds I’ve nursed for years, quietly. Wounds I covered with smiles, laughter, and silence — all in the name of love, family, and peace. 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.

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. Yet even then, I didn’t stop loving you. I only saw you as a rebellious child — one who had lost their way in the noise of applause.

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.

Not because you asked. Not because you publicly corrected the damage. But because I deserve peace. Because my heart is too heavy to carry anger any longer. I waited for you to own it. To stand before the world and say, “I was wrong.” But ego is a stubborn beast — it cannot speak the language of empathy.

Still, I cannot lie — I missed you. I missed my sister. The one who was once my friend. But you were more than that. You were like my first born. I protected you from life’s cruelty, sheltered you from harsh truths, and loved you with the fierceness I give my children. You only saw the parts of me I allowed. I carried your burdens until my back broke.

You are new to the harsh truths of this world, and perhaps I overprotected you. But now, as I rebuild myself piece by piece, I ask — not with bitterness, but with vulnerability — walk this healing journey with me. 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