Kelvin Kiptum's Father Accuses Widow and Influential Officials of Seizing Son's Estate

In a distressing video circulating online, Samson Cheruiyot, the father of the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, has alleged that he is being denied access to his son's fortune by his daughter-in-law, Asenath Rotich, and an unnamed government official.

Nearly two years after the tragic car accident that took the athlete's life, Cheruiyot claims he is facing "economic strangulation."

Speaking from his home in Chepkorio, the grieving father described living in poverty, a stark contrast to the substantial earnings his son accumulated during his celebrated career.

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The emotional video, which has gained significant traction on social media, shows a visibly distraught Cheruiyot detailing his difficult living conditions.

"I have gone through hell," he said. "People think we are eating money, but look at this house. When it rains, we migrate to the corner because the roof is leaking. Is this how the father of a world champion should live?"

In the clip, Cheruiyot accuses his daughter-in-law of conspiring with a high-ranking official to control Kiptum's assets.

He claims this individual accompanied Rotich to Rotterdam in April 2024, just two months after Kiptum's funeral, to allegedly divert the marathoner's earnings.

These allegations have brought a bitter family dispute into the public eye, which has reportedly been ongoing since the athlete's burial in February 2024.

While the government constructed a new house for Kiptum's widow, his parents assert that a similar promise of support for them was never fulfilled.

"They told us the money is for the children," Cheruiyot stated while standing near his son's grave. "But are we not the ones who raised him? Now I hear reports that the money is being kept safe while we starve. I am cursing those who are eating my son’s sweat while his parents suffer."

The controversy has ignited a fierce debate in Kenya's Rift Valley, highlighting a clash between traditional customs, which emphasise respect for elders, and modern laws that typically prioritise the spouse and children in inheritance matters.

As the family's conflict unfolds publicly, the legacy of one of history's greatest marathon runners is at risk of being overshadowed by the battle for his fortune.