World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, along three others are embroiled in a court battle over a prime piece of land worth over KSh100 million.
Joyce Kimosop, a lecturer at Moi University, has sued her husband former runner Daniel Komen, Kipchoge and Brimin Kipruto.
She is accusing Komen of selling off their matrimonial land without consulting her. Local businessmen Felix Kipchoge Lagat and Peter Kipsigei Lagat were also dragged into the matter.
In the ongoing legal battle before Justice Reuben Nyakundi of Eldoret High Court, the prime agricultural land measuring 200 acres is registered in Southern East of Eldoret Municipality in Uasin Gishu County.
The owner, who is currently fighting to reclaim the property, argues that the sale process of their matrimonial property was conducted illegally.
Joyce expressed disappointment that the first to fourth defendants; Eliud Kipchoge, Felex Kipchoge Lagat and Peter Kipsegei Lagat were occupying the land claiming they had bought it.
“I have also learned with shock that the property was sold at just KSh10 million which represents just 10% of the actual value of the land,” she says in court papers.
Komen says he sold 120 acres of the land jointly to Kipchoge and Kipruto and not 150 acres as alleged by his wife. He reportedly sold another 50 acres to the third defendant and 20 acres to the fourth defendant.
“I took several bank loans to fund the purchase and development of the property which was the only family home as I married Komen at a time when he had no place to call a home,” Joyce argues.
Komen claims to be the sole registered owner of the disputed land, while also acknowledging that Joyce is his wife and they have children.
On the other hand, Kipchoge and the other buyers argue that in September and October 2011, they were approached by Daniel Komen, who informed them about the land for sale.
“Komen entered into a sale agreement with us on October 4, 2011, where we bought the property at a sum of sh10 million. We did the diligence after confirming that the land in question was indeed registered under his name,” stated Kipchoge.
