‘These Struggles Are Overwhelming!’ – Kelvin Kiptum’s Parents Open Up Months After Son’s Tragic Death
The late World Marathon Record holder Kelvin Kiptum’s parents have openly regretted their son’s death earlier this year, describing an exceptionally trying existence.
Kiptum died on February 11, 2024, from injuries incurred in a car accident, ending what could have been a glittering career on the track for the 24-year-old.
He passed tragically beside his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
Months after the athlete’s death, his parents have come forward to expose their financial hardships, as well as their complaints about the government’s broken promises.
The late Kiptum’s father, mzee Samson Cheruiyot, was particularly vociferous about those elements who purportedly intended to prohibit him from speaking on the family’s predicament.
“The situation we are in would be better expressed than kept silent because we had tried to reach out to people on social media, but it was blocked,” Cheruiyot said.
The family of the Late Marathoner and Record holder Kelvin Kiptum have come out to speak on their pathetic living condition after son passed on. pic.twitter.com/MldxJHlMzl
— PropesaTV (@PropesaTV) November 14, 2024
Cheruiyot further stated that since Kiptum’s death, he and his wife had been living in substandard conditions, with utilities such as a toilet unavailable in their compound.
He also mentioned how his corn-growing outputs were always at risk of declining since he lacked an appropriate facility to store harvests.
“Our maize is ready in the fields, but we’re uncertain where we will store it when it’s time to harvest. Lastly, drinking water is a constant challenge,” Cheruiyot added.
“We have to pay for a tractor to deliver water, and this has become an enormous burden.”
He continued: “Drinking water is also a constant challenge. We have to pay for a tractor to deliver water, and this has become another burden.
“We kindly appeal to my late son’s friends to please come and see what we are going through, because these struggles are overwhelming.”
The late Kiptum’s mother reported that things had gotten worse after their only kid died.
“I won’t shy from saying that we’ve experienced many challenges since his (Kiptum) death,” she stated.
“We’ve really struggled. Everyone knows Kiptum was our only child and he was someone whom we were relying on.”
Kiptum’s father made news in February after freely discussing his son’s death and the events leading up to it.
Mzee Cheruiyot said at the time that his relationship with the late marathoner was solid.
He revealed that Kiptum had promised to bring home more medals in the future after his heroics at the Chicago marathon.
While requesting a probe into the late athlete’s death in February, Cheruiyot reportedly said four people who refused to identify themselves came to the homestead in search of the late marathoner.
Kiptum’s Legacy:
In October 2023, Kiptum ran a marathon at 2:00:35, putting Kenya on the world map. Nobody has been able to break his record to date.
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In his brief athletic career, the late marathoner earned millions from just three events.
Kiptum competed in the Valencia, London, and, most memorably, Chicago marathons. These races earned him more than Ksh67 million, excluding sponsorships.
Many athletics enthusiasts expected him to succeed marathon superstar Eliud Kipchoge, who has also endured undeserved criticism following Kiptum’s death.
‘These Struggles Are Overwhelming!’ – Kelvin Kiptum’s Parents Open Up Months After Son’s Tragic Death
