Retired international athletics star Sharon Jemutai Cherop has launched a legal counter-offensive against an Eldoret High Court ruling that ordered her to surrender 40 per cent of her multi-million-shilling estate to her ex-husband, Mathew Bowen. Cherop, a former Boston Marathon champion, is disputing the court's decision, arguing that her hard-earned estate was built through her years of competing on the global running circuit. The high-stakes legal showdown pits Cherop against Bowen, her former husband, who served as her manager and pacesetter.
At the centre of the dispute is an expansive portfolio of prime real estate and commercial assets estimated to be worth Sh40 million across Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties. The properties include their matrimonial home in Kaptagat, a student hostel block along the Eldoret-Iten Highway in Kimumu comprising 52 bedsitters, a property in Tambach, and disputed parcels held in joint names. Cherop has already initiated the appeal process, making it clear that she will fight the judgment all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Cherop maintains that the properties were acquired and developed exclusively through her efforts, with most of the money coming from prize earnings in elite international marathons. The court heard evidence of Cherop's career earnings, backed by race-by-race statements from international management agency Volare Sports of the Netherlands. Her financial records detailed earnings from global races, including the Boston, Hamburg, Toronto, and Turin marathons, as well as a first-place finish at the Singapore Marathon that earned her $50,000.
Cherop also cited lucrative endorsement contracts with Adidas, arguing that while Bowen's name appeared on some title deeds, this was done out of "love, affection, and to soothe his ego as the head of the family." She insisted that she single-handedly financed the multi-million-shilling investments. Cherop further accused Bowen of domestic cruelty, violence, and infidelity, which led to the marriage ending in divorce proceedings at the Eldoret Chief Magistrate's Court in September 2023.
In response, Bowen argued that he played an indispensable, hands-on role in building the family's wealth. His legal submissions maintained that the funds remitted to him during the marriage were standard compensation for his work as Cherop's manager and pacesetter. Bowen contended that he spearheaded the physical acquisition and development of the properties, including overseeing the construction of the multi-storey student hostel block in Kisumu and handling utility installations.
The ruling underscores the judicial scrutiny applied under the Matrimonial Property Act, 2013, and Article 45(3) of the Constitution. While the law guarantees equal rights upon dissolution of marriage, court decisions have established that property division must reflect proven individual contributions rather than an automatic 50-50 split. The high-profile case has drawn attention in the North Rift region to the intersection of sports wealth, family law, and property rights.
As Cherop's legal team pursues the appeal, she maintains that her former husband is not entitled to any share of the estate. The case will continue to be closely watched, given its implications for athletes and high-net-worth individuals in Kenya. Cherop's determination to protect her fortune, built through years of hard work and dedication, is clear, and it remains to be seen how the courts will ultimately rule on the matter.
Key points
- Cherop disputes court ruling to surrender 40% of her Sh40m estate to ex-husband Mathew Bowen
- The properties in dispute were acquired and developed through Cherop's efforts, using her prize earnings from international marathons
- The case highlights the intersection of sports wealth, family law, and property rights in Kenya
