Rizna Mutmainah
Legal

Arrests made over record-holder's sudden tragic death

Arrests have been made after Kelvin Kiptum's father claimed that four men had attended his home looking for the Kenyan superstar before his death. 

The marathon world record holder tragically passed away at the age of 24, after a horrific collision that occurred in Western Kenya on Monday killed both him and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. 

Kenyan police have arrested four unidentified men after Kiptum's father, Samson Cheruiyot, called for an investigation into a visit that he said occurred just before the accident. 

"The four were taken to Elgeyo Marakwet for further investigations,"  Keiyo South Sub County commandant Abdullahi Dahir said. 

"They all come from Uasin Gishu County."

Kiptum's devastated father broke down as he spoke about the death of his own child. 

"There are people who came home a while back who were looking for Kiptum, but they refused to identify themselves," Cheruiyot recalled. 

"I asked them to provide identification, but they opted to leave. It was a group of four people."

He also recalled the moment he found out about his son's death. 

"I got the news of my son's death while I was watching the news," Kiptum's father said.

"I went to the scene of the accident but the police had taken the body to Eldoret."

Kiptum broke the marathon world record that was previously held by Eliud Kipchoge, after storming through the race in Chicago in just two hours and 35 seconds.

Cheruiyot said that he last spoke to his son a day before his death. 

"He told me someone will come and help us build a house," he said.

"He said that his body is now fit and he can now run for 1:59.

"Kiptum was my only child. He has left me, his mum and his kids. I have no other child. His mum was sick for a while. Right now I'm deeply saddened."

Images: Getty

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Legal, Kenya, Kelvin Kiptum, Arrest