Kiptum’s Parents Cry for Help on First Anniversary of His Death: “Where Did His Money Go?”

The family of marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum is marking the first anniversary of his tragic death following a grisly road accident on February 11, 2024, along the Eldoret-Kaptagat Road. On this solemn day, Kiptum’s parents, gathered at his graveside, expressed deep sorrow and frustration, not only for their son’s untimely passing but also for the uncertainty surrounding his wealth and the whereabouts of his children.

"We are here as the parents of Kiptum, one year after his death," Kiptum’s father said with a heavy heart. "We are asking where his hard-earned money went. It’s painful to see that we can’t even afford to properly cement his grave, a resting place that should reflect his achievements and legacy," he added.

The parents, visibly shaken and emotional, lamented their inability to honor their son as they had hoped. Despite Kiptum’s significant success and wealth, they are struggling to afford a proper memorial for him, with the sun relentlessly beating down on his unkempt gravesite. "It’s sad that we don’t have the resources to make his resting place dignified. We should have done more, but here we are, and his grave is exposed to the elements," Kiptum's father continued, his voice breaking with emotion.

Adding to the distress, Kiptum’s mother raised questions about the fate of her son’s children. "I do not know where my grandchildren are, I am pleading to be reunited with them," she said, her eyes welling with tears. The marathoner’s mother revealed that Asenath Rotich, Kiptum’s widow, left the family shortly after the burial and has not been in contact since. The couple’s children, the mother shared, have not been seen or heard from, and she expressed a deep longing to be reunited with them.

According to the grieving parents, Asenath Rotich's departure after their son’s burial has left them in the dark about the well-being of their grandchildren. "We don’t know where they are, we don’t know how they are doing. It’s heartbreaking," Kiptum’s father said. The parents, who once hoped to see their grandchildren grow up surrounded by the love of both sides of their family, are now pleading for their daughter-in-law to return and allow them to care for the children.

As they stood by their son's gravesite, the parents questioned where Kiptum's wealth had gone after his death. "He had earned a lot, but now we don’t even have the means to properly mark his resting place or care for his children. We are lost and confused," they said. The couple expressed their frustrations with the financial uncertainty and the emotional toll of losing not just their son, but also the connection to their grandchildren.

The anniversary of Kiptum's death has brought these painful questions to the forefront, and the parents are calling for answers. They hope to find some resolution and bring their family back together, with a desire to see their grandchildren once again. "We just want to see them, to know that they are safe and well," Kiptum’s mother said, her voice filled with desperation.

As Kiptum’s family struggles with these unanswered questions, the memory of the marathoner, who once held the world record for the marathon, continues to inspire many around the world. However, for his parents, the pain of their son's death and the absence of his children is a heartbreaking reminder of the complexities that can follow the sudden loss of a loved one.

As they marked the anniversary, Kiptum’s parents made a public plea to anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of their grandchildren or the management of their son’s estate. "We need help. We are crying for answers," they said. The family hopes that, through this appeal, they can begin to heal and restore their connection to Kiptum’s children, ensuring that his legacy lives on not just in records and memories, but in the care and well-being of his family.

February 13, 2025