James Ole Kiyiapi was born on 17May 1961 at Osupuko Location Transmara District, Kenya. His origin was a humble background. His father, Daudi oleKapur belonged to the Ilnyangusi age set and had two wives with Kiyiapi's mother, Naomi being the second. Kiyiapi is the last born of Naomi's six children. As a boy, he grew up herding his fathers flock and lived a typical village life.