Two years after the tragic road accident that claimed the life of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, his parents are still grappling with deep pain and unanswered questions.
On the second anniversary of his death, Mzee Samson Cheruiyot and his wife stood quietly beside their son’s gravesite in Kaptagat.
The emotional moment was marked not only by grief but also visible disappointment, as Kiptum’s grave remains unfinished and yet to be cemented.
The heartbroken father expressed frustration, claiming that efforts to reach his son’s management company, Golazo, have borne no fruit. According to him, the family has felt abandoned since the athlete’s burial.
“Today is the day our son left us. We are Kiptum’s parents, and we have gone through a lot but we will persevere, and God will answer our prayers,” Mzee Cheruiyot said.
“We are shocked that after his burial the white men left and never came back to speak to us. We are shocked that our son’s gravesite has not been cared for until now.”
Over the past two years, Kiptum’s father has publicly aired his frustrations, at times directing blame at his son’s widow, Asenath Rotich.
He claimed that since relocating to Rotterdam in 2024, she has never visited them, despite reports that the government built her a house following the athlete’s death.
Mzee Cheruiyot further alleged that he and his wife were excluded from key decisions involving foundations and plans made after Kiptum’s passing. He said they were not involved in discussions that took place in Nairobi and abroad.
Beyond the emotional toll, the family is also facing financial strain. Kiptum’s father revealed he is struggling to pay school fees for his grandchild. The late athlete had a child with Edna Awuor.
As they marked the painful anniversary, Kiptum’s parents said they continue to rely on faith and hope that their concerns will eventually be addressed.
“At the moment, we are the ones paying school fees for Kiptum’s child. I even forwarded the school fee structure to Golazo, but the manager has declined to release any funds to support the child’s education.
What are we supposed to do? We are struggling. Whenever it rains, floods threaten to sweep us away. As we stand here crying at our son’s grave, I place the blame on the Keiyo kingpin and Asenath.
Let them bear the burden of what has happened to our son, and may God come to our aid,” he said.