World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum’s family has been divided since his death one year ago and it has now emerged that the division has led to a freezing of his millions.
Kelvin Kiptum’s family has been in the news this week as the world marked one year since the marathoner’s death.
Kiptum passed away on February 11, 2024 but one year on, his family is deeply divided with money at the centre of the division.
The dispute pits Kiptum’s parents, father Samson Cheruiyot and mother Mary Kangongo, and the late marathon world record holder’s widow Asenath Rotich.
The world marks the first anniversary of Kelvin Kiptum’s death on Tuesday but for his parents, it is a painful reminder of how unbearable life has been since their son passed away.
Kiptum’s parents have claimed Rotich fled the home immediately after the marathoner was buried while the mother of two insists she left after her life was made unbearable by the athlete’s family.
That has led to claims from Kiptum’s parents that the widow is the only one benefiting from the marathoner’s millions, accusing the late athletes’ management company Golazo of only helping his wife and children.
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However, it has now emerged that most of the money at the centre of the dispute has been frozen due to the wrangling between the two parties.
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Kelvin Kiptum’s parents have been left disappointed after the widow of the late world marathon record holder failed to attend his memorial.
According to Nation, over Ksh80 million from Kiptum’s wins and endorsement deals has been frozen owing to the family dispute.
“Nike is withholding US$200,000 (Ksh25.8 million) committed to the Kiptum family, and a watch sponsor is also retaining another US$200,000,” a source close to Kiptum’s image representative and asset manager told Nation.
Chinese watchmaker Amazfit launched the “Amazfit Cheetah Pro Kelvin Kiptum Edition” a day before the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon, a race Kiptum was training for before his death, with the company saying proceeds from its sale would go to the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation.
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Here is everything you need to know that made Kelvin Kiptum a marathon icon.
That is over Ksh51 million from the two brands alone but there is more at stake. There is also the Ksh10 million from the Kenyan government, being Ksh5 million state reward for breaking a world record, and an equal amount given to his family following his tragic death through a road accident.
Kiptum died just days after his world marathon record had been ratified by World Athletics. He had clocked an astonishing 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, becoming the first man to run a sub-2:01 marathon.
That entitled him to the winner’s prize of $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) and a $50,000 (Ksh6.4) bonus for breaking the world record, bringing his total from the race to $150,000 (Ksh19.3 million).
It brings the total to over Ksh80 million although the Nation also reports that Kiptum earned further amounts from commercial deals that are yet to be made public.
Golazo, the late marathoner’s management company, is believed to have chosen this path to protect Kiptum’s wealth and ensure it does not get misused or even add more problems to the already divided family.
