Kelvin Kiptum’s father has cursed widow Asenath Rotich in a heartbreaking video recorded right at his son’s grave, accusing her of grabbing the late marathoner’s properties and vanishing without a trace. Samson Cheruiyot poured out his pain, claiming the family has been left struggling while others control what Kiptum worked so hard for.
The clip surfaced online just days ago, showing the elderly man standing beside the grave in Chepkorio, voice cracking with emotion. He didn’t hold back. “I spell a curse on you and Asenath,” he said, pointing to the ground where his only son rests.
Cheruiyot went on to say Asenath disappeared from the family home soon after the burial, taking everything that belonged to Kiptum. He mentioned the runner’s car still sitting at a police station nearly two years later, with no one releasing it to the parents.
This isn’t the first time tensions have boiled over. Back in early 2025, around the first anniversary of Kiptum’s death, similar complaints came up. Cheruiyot had spoken out then about feeling forgotten, saying Asenath moved away quickly – first to another area, then to Nairobi – without looking back. He insisted no one chased her off, but the distance grew.
Now, in this latest video, the hurt runs deeper. He talks about a powerful government figure from the region teaming up with Asenath, even traveling together to Rotterdam shortly after the funeral to handle deals tied to Kiptum’s earnings.
Kiptum’s story still moves people across Kenya and beyond. The young star shattered the marathon world record in Chicago back in 2023, clocking 2:00:35 – the first man to dip under 2:01 in an official race. He was just 24, with dreams of going even faster, maybe breaking two hours flat.
Tragically, a car crash in February 2024 took him and his coach Gervais Hakizimana on a quiet road near Kaptagat. Kenya mourned a hero gone too soon, with state funerals and promises of support for the family.
Those promises are part of what fuels Cheruiyot’s anger today. The government built a nice three-bedroom house for Asenath and the two young children Kiptum left behind. But the parents say nothing similar came their way.
Their home leaks when it rains, and daily life stays tough. Cheruiyot sells goods at the market on a boda boda, still waiting for the better days his son talked about. “We raised him,” he says in the video, questioning why the money gets locked away for the kids while grandparents suffer.
Supporters rally around her as a young widow raising kids alone, handling the estate as the law allows. Critics, though, side with the parents, saying elders deserve respect and a share in hard-earned success.
Social media exploded after the video dropped. Kenyans shared it widely, debating family duties after loss. Some call for mediation, maybe involving community leaders or lawyers to sort the estate fairly.
Others urge President Ruto – who attended the funeral and made pledges – to step in and check on the situation. Questions hang about insurance payouts, prize money, and sponsorship deals that added up during Kiptum’s short but brilliant career.
Cheruiyot ended his graveside plea by turning to higher powers. He cursed those he feels wronged the family, asking God to see their pain. It’s raw grief mixed with frustration, nearly two years on.
Families go through tough patches after sudden deaths, especially when money gets involved. Wills, traditions, and emotions clash. Here, it’s playing out publicly, pulling at heartstrings nationwide. Asenath focuses on the children, keeping Kiptum’s memory alive privately. The parents hold onto hope that someone listens before more bitterness sets in.
