Retired Kenyan international runner Daniel Komen is locked in a bitter court battle with his wife, Dr. Joyce Kimosop Komen, over the sale of their prime matrimonial property valued at more than Ksh.100 million.
Komen admitted in court that he sold the 220-acre parcel of land, located in the southeastern part of Eldoret municipality in Uasin Gishu County, to fellow athletes including double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Brimin Kipruto, as well as businessmen Felix Kipchoge Lagat and Peter Kipsigei Lagat. He defended the decision, saying he did not need his wife’s consent.
The retired athlete, a father of three, explained that he bought the land over two decades ago from prominent farmer Mzee Kwambai Chesire, using earnings from international races and a local bank loan. While recognizing Dr. Joyce as his legal wife, Komen insisted he was the sole owner of the land and therefore had every right to dispose of it.
Komen told the court that he had asked his wife to settle the matter out of court, but she refused and opted for a full trial. He also defended Kipchoge, Kipruto, and the businessmen, dismissing claims that they were strangers to the property. According to him, they were legitimate purchasers.
Dr. Joyce, a senior lecturer at Moi University, argues otherwise. In her suit, she claims the sale was illegal since she was not involved in the transaction despite being a co-owner of the property. She further told the court that the land was grossly undervalued.
“I have also learned with shock that the property was sold at just Kes.10 million which represents just 10 percent of the actual value of the land,” she said in her court papers.
Kipchoge and the other buyers maintain that they purchased the land in good faith and were unaware of any marital dispute. They insist the transactions were transparent and above board.
“Komen entered into a sale agreement with us on October 4, 2011, where we bought the property at a sum of Kes.10 million. We did due diligence after confirming that the land in question was indeed registered under his name,” Kipchoge testified in an earlier court session.
The hearing of the matter continues.
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