Boston Marathon Champion Sharon Cherop Fights Ex-Husband Over Sh40M Estate Battle

Former Boston marathon champion Sharon Cherop is locked in a legal battle with her former husband, Mathew Bowen, over a Sh40 million estate, following an Eldoret High Court ruling awarding him 40 per cent of the disputed assets.

The court battle involves several valuable properties, including a matrimonial home in Kaptagat, a 52-bed-sitter hostel along the Eldoret–Iten Highway and parcels of land in Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, which are said to have been acquired during their marriage.

According to court records, the Eldoret High Court ruled that Mathew Bowen is entitled to 40 per cent of the disputed estate after finding that he contributed to its acquisition both directly and indirectly during the years they lived together as husband and wife.

The ruling has sparked debate in the athletics community, with many questioning how property acquired by an international athlete should be shared after divorce. Sharon Cherop is one of Kenya’s most decorated female marathoners, having won the Boston Marathon in 2012 among other international titles.

The properties in dispute include a lavish matrimonial home in Kaptagat, which is a popular training ground for elite athletes. The home is located in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, an area known for producing world-beating long-distance runners. Also included is a 52-bed-sitter hostel along the busy Eldoret–Iten Highway, which generates rental income.

Other parcels of land in Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties are also part of the estate that the court has ordered to be shared. The court considered evidence of contributions made by both parties before arriving at the 40 per cent award to the ex-husband.

Sharon Cherop is said to be dissatisfied with the ruling and has indicated plans to challenge the decision in a higher court. Her legal team argues that most of the properties were acquired through her earnings from athletics and that her former husband’s contribution was minimal.

Mathew Bowen on the other hand maintains that he supported his former wife’s career and contributed to family investments, hence he deserves a share of the estate. The court agreed with his argument, noting that marriage is a partnership where both direct and indirect contributions count.

The case highlights the growing number of property disputes involving Kenyan athletes after divorce, with many similar cases pending before courts in Eldoret and Iten.

Do you think an ex-husband deserves 40% of a female athlete’s Sh40M estate after divorce?

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