Kiptum's family opens up on life post world record holder's demise
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 14.02.25. | 20:35
Investigations reveal that legal wrangles have led to the freezing of financial assets estimated at around Ksh200 million
The family of late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has opened up about their dire financial situation, lamenting their inability to even cement his grave.
Speaking during Kiptum’s recent memorial service, his father, Samson Cheruiyot, expressed frustration over the family’s continued hardship despite his son’s immense achievements in athletics.
Sitting beside his wife in front of their son’s grave, Cheruiyot did not hold back his grievances, revealing that since his son’s burial, the family has not been informed about the status of his wealth.
To make matters worse, he claimed that Kiptum’s widow, Asenath Rotich, had distanced herself from them and did not attend the memorial service. Cheruiyot alleged that they waited for their Asenath until 4 pm but she did not show up.
“The wife of my child will be cursed her whole life... If God is present, let her live. When he died, she did not even finish a month here, she left. Let her leave and eat our son’s money alone. We will cry to God only. We are not even recognized as his parents,” he lamented as quoted by Tuko News.
Cheruiyot also raised concerns over the freezing of Kiptum’s assets, including sponsorship funds and prize money, which remain tied up due to disputes between the family, Kiptum’s widow, and the administrators of his estate.
Investigations by Nation reveal that legal wrangles have led to the freezing of financial assets estimated at around Ksh200 million.
A significant portion of this includes funds from major sponsors such as Nike and Chinese watch company Amazfit, each withholding $200,000 (approximately Ksh25 million) pledged to Kiptum’s family. Additionally, the Kenyan government had allocated Ksh10 million to the family, but this, too, remains inaccessible due to estate disputes.
Other sources of Kiptum’s earnings include prize money from the 2023 Chicago Marathon, where he set the world record at 2:00:35, surpassing Eliud Kipchoge’s previous mark.
He received a winner’s prize of $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) and a further $50,000 (Ksh6.45 million) bonus for breaking the course and world record. His commercial deals, including endorsements from Nike and Amazfit, continued generating income even after his passing.
Despite these substantial earnings, Kiptum’s parents say they remain in the dark about the distribution of his wealth.
“Since our son was laid to rest up to date, we have never been told the way forward concerning our son’s money. The people responsible for our son should show us the progress. It is now a year, and we are not seeing any reactions towards our son’s efforts he made in athletics,” Cheruiyot said.
Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Kiptum’s Brussels-based management company Golazo, has been at the forefront of mediation efforts, seeking to unite the family before any disbursements can be made.
Through his influence, the Rotterdam Marathon, which is owned by Golazo, raised 50,000 Euros (about Ksh9 million) as seed money for the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation. The funds were sourced from entry fees paid by the 50,000 competitors in the marathon.
It is now a matter of wait-and-see if the family will settle their differences and get access to Kiptum’s property.
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