Kevin Kiptum’s father demands answers a year after his son’s tragic accident, accusing authorities of withholding the police report and justice.
It is a year since Kenya’s world record-holding marathoner Kevin Kiptum tragically lost his life in a road accident but his family is still searching for answers.
His father, Samson Cheruiyot, is demanding an official accident report from the National Police Service, which he claims has never been released.
Cheruiyot says that despite multiple attempts to obtain the report, he has been met with silence from authorities. Meanwhile, Kiptum’s vehicle remains at Kaptagat Police Station and the family has been unable to follow up on the insurance claim due to the missing report.
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As days turn into months, the pain of losing their only son lingers, deepened by the lack of closure on what exactly transpired on that fateful night. Kiptum’s mother, Mary, says their lives have never been the same since.
“My son saw how we were struggling, and after competing and doing well internationally, he promised me that I would soon be driving my own car to the market. I was so happy, but it remains a dream because I’m still using boda boda to take my wares to the market,” she lamented as per Nation.
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The accident, which also claimed the life of Kiptum’s Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, left a female passenger as the sole survivor. However, one year later, the circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear. The family is growing frustrated, questioning why the authorities have not shared crucial details about the accident.
Cheruiyot believes that as Kiptum’s parents, they deserve to know the truth. He says that while the world continues to mourn the fallen marathon legend, the government has done little to provide them with clarity.
“It has been a year of pain, but we have never been told exactly what happened. We need to know the truth. Why is the police report not available? Why is my son’s car still at the station? These are questions we have, and we need answers,” he said.
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Kiptum, who had stunned the world with his record-breaking performances, was expected to make history at the Rotterdam Marathon in April and the Paris Olympics in July. His untimely death not only robbed Kenya of one of its greatest sporting talents but also left his family in despair.
Adding to their struggles, the family has been caught up in a legal battle over Kiptum’s estate. Disagreements between his parents, his wife, and estate administrators have led to the freezing of his assets, estimated to be worth Sh200 million. With no access to these funds and no insurance compensation, Kiptum’s parents say they have been left to struggle alone.
Mary remembers how her son had big plans for them, vowing to change their lives for the better. His success in the marathon world was not just his own, but a promise of a better future for his family.
“He wanted us to live a better life, and he always told me not to worry anymore. But now, here we are, still suffering, still asking questions,” she said.
As the world moves on, the Kiptum family remains stuck in the past, waiting for answers that may never come. They continue to call on the government to release the accident report, hoping that knowing the truth will bring them some form of closure.
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Until then, they live with nothing but memories of their son—his achievements, his dreams and the future he never got to see.
