Athletics

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge sued over multi-million shilling property

Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge receives the Princess of Asturias Award in Spain on October 22, 2023. (Photo: X/Eliud Kipchoge)

By Joseph Ndunda | Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The case is centered on a 200-acre piece of land sold to Eliud Kipchoge and Brimin Kipruto by former runner Daniel Komen

World Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge is among four people who have been roped into a Sh100 million property suit at the Eldoret High Court in Uasin Gishu County.

Kipchoge, former athlete Daniel Kipng'etich Komen, Peter Sang, 2008 Beijing Olympics 3000-metre steeplechase gold-medalist Brimin Kipruto, and businessman Felix Kipchoge Langat have been sued by Komen's wife, Joyce Kimosop, who accuses her husband of selling land on which their matrimonial home sits.

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Kimosop claims to be a beneficiary and equitable co-owner of the 200-acre land that she says she acquired and developed with her husband since the year 2000, when they started the purchase process.

She has petitioned the court to determine if the transaction can be done without her involvement, since, according to her, it is family property. She also wants the court to find that there was fraud and deceit in the sale of the property located in Eldoret town.

"I have contributed a substantial amount of money to the development of the property, and at present, [it] is worth well over Sh100 million. My husband has never mentioned to me that he sold the land, let alone the intention to sell," Kimosop states.

"The constitution of this country protects my interest in marriage and that of my children in family property, and the transaction ought to be nullified on account of infringement of my constitutional rights to the said property."

Kipchoge claims that in September 2011, Komen informed him and Kiprop that he was selling the land in question and asked them if they were interested in it. He says they purchased 40 acres of the said land in October 2011 for Sh10 million.

Komen offered to sell them an additional 80 acres in January 2012 for Sh25.6 million, which they paid.

In his affidavit in response to the suit, the athlete states that Komen was the registered owner of the land he took possession of in 2008 after completing payment.

Kipchoge further says he legally owns the land in question, having followed due procedures in buying it.

Komen pleaded for him and his wife to settle the matter out-of-court, maintaining that he was the sole registered owner of the land that he sold to Kipchoge and Kiprop.

Komen, a retired athlete, states that he sold 120 acres of land to Kipchoge and Kiprop, 50 acres to Langat, and 20 acres to Sang.

His wife wants the High Court to nullify the transaction in relation to the sale of the land and reverse its ownership to her and Komen, arguing that her family has no other place to call home and that the children will suffer if they learn it has been sold.