Police arrest four people who visited marathoner Kelvin Kiptum’s home before death

admin February 15, 2024

The police are there Kenya‘s Keiyo South arrested four visitors Men’s marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum‘s house right now four days before he diedsaid local reports.

Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Garvais Hakizimana died in a road accident in the Kaptagat area along Elgeyo Marakwet Road on Sunday evening, police confirmed.

His father Samson Cheruiyot had mentioned a visit from four strangers at the star athlete’s home in the village of Chepsamo four days before the collision, Nation.Africa reported on Wednesday.

The four suspects were now in police custody and were being questioned. They were initially detained at the Kaptagat police station in Elgeyo Marakwet County and have now been sent to Iten town for further questioning by investigators on the nature of their visit.

Mr. Cheruiyot called for an investigation into the four people and said they had not properly introduced themselves, the report added.

Of the four suspects, Mr. Cheruiot positively identified three men at Kaptagat Police Station.

The vehicle used by the suspects was also seized and is also being held at the Keiyo South Police Station, the report added.

The four people were previously summoned for questioning by the Elgeyo Marakwet County detective, Nation.Africa reported.

Police added that Kiptum was the driver and the vehicle “lost control and overturned, killing the two instantly.”

A third passenger, a woman, was injured, AFP reported.

Kiptum won the London Marathon last year and broke his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October.

A father of two, the 24-year-old made his marathon debut in 2022, four years after taking part in his first major competition where he was forced to rent shoes for economic reasons, later commenting to the BBC: ” I didn’t have any money to travel to the track sessions.”

He was scheduled to run the Rotterdam Marathon in April this year, which was billed as an attempt to break the two-hour barrier in an official race for the first time after Kipchoge’s unofficial 1:59:40.2 run in Vienna in 2019.

World Athletics President Seb Coe paid tribute to Kiptum: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana.”

“On behalf of all World Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.

“It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially confirm his historic time. He is an incredible athlete who has left an incredible legacy. We will miss him very much.”

Kipchoge, the Kenyan star whose marathon record Kiptum broke in Chicago, paid tribute to his compatriot.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of marathon world record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum,” Kipchoge said in a post on social media.

“An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness. May I offer my deepest condolences to his young family.”

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