Ex-Kenyan Athlete Reveals Why Land Sold To Eliud Kipchoge Sparked Family Feud

Marathon Legend Eliud Kipchoge was among buyers of disputed Eldoret land sold without wife’s consent, sparking major court battle.

Retired athlete Daniel Komen has told the High Court in Eldoret that he sold 220 acres of prime land along the Nairobi highway without involving his wife, sparking a heated legal battle over what she calls matrimonial property. The property, L.R No 8638/26, lies southeast of Eldoret and is valued at more than Sh300 million.

Komen, a former 3,000m world record holder, testified before Justice Reuben Nyakundi that he sold the land to fellow athletes and a businessman, insisting that the property belonged solely to him and that he was not legally required to consult his wife, Joyce Kimosop.

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The land was acquired more than two decades ago, Komen said, using earnings from international competitions and a bank loan. He claimed that despite the joint loan used to finalize the purchase, the property was registered in his name and remained under his control.

“I did not involve my wife in the transaction because the land belonged solely to me,” Komen told the court, adding that he made efforts to mediate the dispute before the matter escalated as per The Star.

Among the buyers were Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, 2007 World steeplechase gold medalist Brimin Kipruto, former London Marathon winner Felix Limo, and businessman Peter Sang.

Wife Cries Foul, Calls Deal Unfair

Kimosop, a senior lecturer at Moi University, insists that the land constitutes matrimonial property and argues the sale was unlawful because she neither gave her consent nor was consulted.

In court papers, she said she was stunned to learn the property had been sold for just Sh10 million — an amount she claims is barely 10 per cent of its market value.

 “I took several bank loans to fund the purchase and development of the property, which was our only family home. My husband never mentioned the sale and I was surprised when strangers occupied it,” she stated.

Kimosop, who married Komen in 1998 and has three children with him, argues the land was bought jointly but registered under Komen’s name in trust for the family. She wants the court to rule on whether a wife has a constitutional right to be involved in decisions affecting family property and whether the sale violated her rights.

Buyers Defend the Purchase

Through court filings, Kipchoge and the other buyers defended the transaction, stating they conducted due diligence and confirmed that the land was registered in Komen’s name. Kipchoge explained that they entered into a sale agreement in October 2011 for Sh10 million and later purchased an additional 80 acres for Sh25.6 million.

“We conducted due diligence and obtained consent from the Land Control Board. We have since secured the land with guards and planted crops,” Kipchoge said, adding he was unaware of any family dispute at the time of purchase.

Komen admitted that his wife had managed and developed the property while he was competing internationally, but he downplayed her contribution, terming it minimal. He maintained that the decision to sell was solely his.

The court battle now centers on whether the property should legally be considered matrimonial and whether Kimosop’s rights were violated. 

Justice Nyakundi is expected to determine if the sale stands or if the land should be restored to the family.

The case continues.