Kerey Zhanibek was an outstanding Kazakh batyr of the Ablai Khan era. He is mentioned together with the batyrs Kanzhygaly Bogenbay, Shapyrashty Nauryzbay, Aktamberdy, Syrymbet, Baykozy. He led the battle against the Dzungars. His bravery is widely known among the people. According to the custom of burying outstanding people after their death, Kerey Zhanibek was buried in the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasaui in the city of Turkestan.

He took an active part in the battles against the Dzungar invasion. In 1760, Zhanibek settled the Abak Kerey clan on the native land of their ancestors, in the Altai Mountains, which are now part of Xinjiang. His name became the pride of the Abak-kerey clan. When he went to battle against the Dzungar invaders, he received a blessing from his maternal uncle, Kaz dauysty Kazybek biy. In one of the battles, he saved Abylai Khan, who had lost his horse, by helping him onto his own, and he himself, having entered the battle, killed two Kalmyk warriors and remained alive.

Until the end of the war against the Dzungar invasion, he fought together with the Kara-kerey batyrs Kabanbay, Kanzhigali Bogenbay and others.

In 1731, when the Khan of the Younger Zhuz Abilkaiyr accepted citizenship of the Russian Empire, Er Zhanibek, at the head of the Kerey tribe, migrated from the Syr Darya River valley and settled on Mount Kalba. The pass near Aktau in Altai was later named «Zhanibek Pass». Thanks to his eloquence, leadership qualities and bravery in attacking the enemy, Er Zhanibek became the pride of the entire Abak Kerey clan. He died at the age of eighty.

Zhanibek Berdauletuly was one of the great batyrs who became famous in the battle against the Dzungar invasion and was at the forefront of the Kazakh army led by Ablai Khan and the batyr Karakerey Kabanbay. He comes from the Kerey tribe of the Middle Zhuz. Therefore, people called him «Kerey Zhanibek» so as not to confuse him with the famous batyr of that time Shakshak Zhanibek.

В.Baibol, head of the department.