Did Kelvin Kiptum's Father Sideline The Marathon Champion's Sister?

It appears that despite claims by his father that he was the sole child, the late marathoner Kelvin Kiptum has left behind a sister.

During a media interaction on February 12, 2024, a day following the tragic demise of Kiptum and his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hazikimana, in a single vehicle accident in Ravine, Elgeyo Marakwet, his father, Samson Cheruiyot, asserted that he had only one child when questioned about his offspring.

"Let me clarify. Kiptum was my only child. Just him. Now he has left me, his wife, and his children behind. I have no other offspring. My wife encountered some health issues, and the medical advice was for us to accept the situation. I acquiesced, and we came to terms with it. Presently, I'm at a loss for words. I look at his children, and I'm unsure of what lies ahead - my son is gone," expressed a grieving Mr. Cheruiyot.

He appealed to the government for assistance. Responding to this plea, the government ordered the construction of a home for Kiptum's widow and their two children, as well as another for Mr. Cheruiyot. Contractors were given a week to complete the houses ahead of Kiptum's scheduled burial on Friday, February 23, 2024.

In the lead-up to the funeral, Kiptum's obituary was published in a national daily newspaper, revealing that he had a sister.

"Kelvin was the cherished firstborn child of Mr. Samson Cheruiyot and Mary Chepkiyeng. The late Kelvin was the husband of Asenath Cheruto Rotich. They were blessed with two children, namely Caleb Kigen and Precious Cherop. He was the brother of Rodah Chemutai," stated the comprehensive obituary.

The aftermath of the tragic passing of the World Record marathon breaker Kelvin Kiptum has seen further relational complexities emerge. Earlier this week, a woman, Ms. Edna Awuor Otieno, aged 22, came forward, asserting that she had a child with the deceased.

By asserting the child's paternity, Ms. Awuor aimed for recognition of herself and the child as beneficiaries of Kiptum's estate, alongside his widow and their two children.