By Sheriff Bojang Jnr
Four men who visited the home of world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum four days before his death in a road accident have been arrested.
Kelvin Kiptum, 24, who ran three of the world’s seven fastest marathons, died in a car crash in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County, on Sunday evening.
Police said Kiptum was driving but “lost control and [the vehicle] rolled, killing [him and his Rwandese coach Garvais Hakizimana] on the spot”.
A third passenger, who was female, was injured, AFP reported.
Suspected foul play
Four men were arrested Wednesday morning after Kiptum’s father, Samson Cheruiyot, told investigators about a visit by “four strangers” four days before the crash.
“There are people who came home awhile back who were looking for Kiptum but they refused to identify themselves – I asked them to provide identification, but they opted to leave,” Cheruiyot told a media briefing.
According to the police, the four men had been sent to Kiptum by a Chinese company involved in a KSh.45m ($295,000) ‘disputed’ contract with the top athlete.
“The Chinese company was to supply sports equipment to Kiptum to be used during the Chicago marathon and it is alleged that Kiptum opted to use a different brand and not the Chinese brand as agreed,” Joshua Chelal, a criminal investigations officer, told Citizen TV.
“They were aggrieved and sent the four men to negotiate whether they could be compensated or whether they would be given another opportunity to supply Kiptum [with] equipment for the forthcoming Rotterdam race slated for April 2024,” Chelal said.
Lawyer Kipyegon Lagat, who is representing the four men, denied the statements of both Cheruiyot and the police. According to him, they had successful negotiations and even took photos afterwards.
“We have shared with the [Director of Criminal Investigations] DCI on why they were there. They will be able to carry out their investigations but, on our part, they were there for a good course,” Lagat said in a press statement.
Incredible athlete
The World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said he was “shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss” of Kiptum and Hakizimana.
He described Kiptum as “one of the most exciting new prospects to emerge in road running in recent years” and an “incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy”.
““It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin [Kiptum] set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time,” Coe said in a statement.
President William Ruto has since sent engineers to Kiptum’s home to build a three-bedroom house within seven days as a gift to his widow and children before he is laid to rest on 24 February.
Kiptum was born and raised in Chepsamo village in Chepkorio, 30km from Eldoret within the Rift Valley region.
He came to global prominence in December 2022 when he won Valencia marathon, clocking 2:01:53. A year later, he went on to smash the world record — in just his third marathon — clocking 2:00:35 in Chicago.
He was to compete at the Rotterdam Marathon in April and hoped to break the two-hour record.
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