Speaking to Tuko about how life has been one year since his fatal accident, the parents of Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum opened up about their current relationship with his wife, his side chick and Kiptum’s estate puzzle.
“We are in the hands of God because for us, our lives can be cut short at any time ” were the words that the late Kiptums dad told Tuko in an interview on the family’s life post the athletes death.
Living in Usain Gishu County, his mother and father have an update a year on.
Mary Cheruyoit and Samson Cheruyoit Chipkiem told Tuko that time has not healed their wounds.
“It’s been one year and the needs Kiptum used to take care of has been lacking” She elaborated. “I haven’t seen my grandchildren over the last one year.”
“We sleep on mattresses on the floor, our windows are covered with blankets.” he shared.
The couple say they are trying hard to make a living “His mum goes to the market, while I farm potatoes so that we can get something to eat. His father has tried severally to enquire about the financial promises they were made to no avail. He has also tried desperately to get his hands on the vehicle that Kiptum died in.
Mrs Cheruyoit is eager to see her grandchildren “upto today I dont know where they are. I’ve even tried to ask around the school but they said it’s been a whole since they were in school. I wonder where they’ve gone. Let his spirit walk around and tell his kids to come back home we lived like we lived in Chepkorio.”
The dad addressed claims that Kiptums wife made that she was chased away “when she said we chased her away, let her take her sins I even put security lock on the door, I can’t unlock it. We moved from mourning, and we said tis better we sleep on the floor and we endure it. Let her come and live in the house and leave us where we are. The last time I saw her I think was in April. We never chased her away. I swear before God, ” claimed the 60-year-old man.
The late Kiptum was their only child, “Right now we are wondering, if we fall sick, who will help us. You see my saliva, nothing came from my mouth saying Asenath should go” also alleged Kiptums mother. “Ask Asenath, I am saying his as a mother, I took care of her, even she gave birth, she never hired a house help, I am not saying I was the maid, but Kiptum never hired a maid, I took care of her until she had strength to cook for herself and the second child”
They currently send milk to Kiptums other child with a woman named Edna.
The parents were asked “Would you welcome her -Asenath – back with open arms?”
The mother responded “Who chased her away? I’ve said ask Asenath if my mouth if I said anything about her. She said I chased her away, I didn’t even say one thing. I told you I was with her in maternity, I took care of her, I paid for maternity, because Kiptum hadn’t gotten money at that time. Have you understood me?”
“Let her come back however she wants. Let her finish what she wants to wherever she went to. When she is done, let her come back of her free will. I did not chase her. I cannot ask her to come back. Even if I were to meet her on the road, I won’t greet her” the father shared.
“When you say that we are fighting over his property, I feel alot of pain. ” said his mother “we never wanted Kiptum to pass on and then we are left fighting over his money. I cry everyday wishing that Kiptum could come back to life for even a minute and then return to death” she cried about their current state of life.
by MAUREEN WARUINGE
