A high-stakes matrimonial property dispute involving top athletes takes a dramatic courtroom twist over contested documents and land ownership.
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has been drawn into a heated Sh100 million matrimonial property dispute between former 3,000-meter world record holder Daniel Komen and his estranged wife, Joyce Kimosop Komen.
The case before Eldoret High Court took unforeseen direction on Tuesday after the court rejected an attempt to introduce four additional documents as evidence.
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Presiding over the case, Justice Reuben Nyakundi stood down Ms Komen— a senior lecturer and head of the Management Science Department at Moi University—after she tried to submit the documents during her testimony.
“I will have to step you down to allow me to make a ruling on whether to admit or reject the additional documents you have presented in court relating to this case,” ruled Justice Nyakundi as per Daily Nation.
The ruling on the admissibility of the documents is expected on March 28.
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Ms Komen, through her lawyer Patrick Kibii, wants the sale agreements declared null and void as she claims that the sale of their 200-acre matrimonial land located southeast of Eldoret City was done without her knowledge or consent.
According to court filings, the land—valued at Sh100 million—was allegedly sold for a mere Sh10 million to Kipchoge and three other buyers: Brimin Kipruto, the 2008 Olympic 3,000-meter steeplechase champion, and Felix Kipchoge Lagat and Peter Kipsigei Lagat.
“I was shocked to learn that my husband sold our matrimonial property at a paltry Sh10 million, which represents just 10 percent of the actual value of the land,” stated Ms Komen in court documents.
She further claims that she made significant financial contributions toward both the purchase and development of the land, including taking multiple loans.
“I took various loans to fund the purchase and development of the property, which was the only family home, as I married Komen when he had no place to call home,” she added.
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However, Komen contests her assertions, insisting he is the sole registered owner of the 89.03-hectare property (L.R No 8638/26). He acknowledges they jointly applied for a loan to pay off part of the land's purchase price, but claims her involvement stopped at development-related contributions.
“It is true we jointly applied for a loan with my wife to settle the outstanding balance of the purchase price of the said suit property to the former owners—the Kwambai and Chesire family—excluding other development projects she undertook on the land,” he told the court.
In a twist, Komen asserts that the sale was done with his wife's consent—a claim she vehemently denies.
Lawyer Joshua Ogongo, representing Kipchoge and the other buyers, opposed the inclusion of the documents, arguing Ms Komen was neither present during the signing nor mentioned in any of the sale records.
Efforts to resolve the dispute through mediation failed, forcing the resumption of the legal battle in court.