A retired Kenyan international marathoner, Mike Kipkorir Kipyego, will remain in custody after the court cancelled his Sh1 million bond in a land fraud case involving a parcel of land in Elgon View Estate, Eldoret City.
Kipyego is facing three counts of fraud related to the alleged irregular acquisition or transaction involving the property, valued at approximately Sh8 million.
He is accused of defrauding Nandi County’s Mosop Parliamentary aspirant Mary Lucy Kurgat of her money by pretending that he was in a position to sell her the prime property located on the outskirts of the town’s central business district.
Kipyego was arrested last week by detectives from the directorate of criminal investigations land fraud unit after he jumped bail on several occasions when he was required to be in court.
This was after he went underground on being granted a bond of Sh1 million or alternative cash bail of Sh500,000.
In his ruling, Eldoret Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga directed that Kipyego, who was brought before his court under a warrant of arrest, be escorted to Eldoret GK remand prison, where he will remain until the hearing and determination of his fraud-related charges.
The prosecution has lined up five witnesses who are set to testify against the retired athlete during the proceedings.
CM Ndiwga cancelled the bond after the accused person confessed to absconding court multiple occasions, necessitating the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
He said the accused has not shown any changed circumstances to warrant a review of the court order issued on February 10, 2026 and his readmission to bond terms.
He added that the accused abused the bond terms he was admitted to at the plea stage and that he was on the run until he was arrested by the police. “The bond terms were meant to secure court attendance during trial, but he abused the same. The court cannot again trust that he will attend court when required to do so,” affirmed Ndwiga.
“A confession under oath is the highest form of admission known to be lawful and requires further proof,” argued the magistrate. The order cancelling the accused person’s bond terms and remanding him in custody shall remain in force,” he stressed.
The Chief Magistrate was reacting to an application filed by the former athlete under a certificate of urgency seeking the court’s intervention to reinstate his bond terms pending the hearing and determination of the criminal case he is facing.
“I am humbly requesting the honorable court to set aside or vacate the order revoking the Sh1 million bond or the Sh500,000 cash bail that had been granted to me and remanding me to Eldoret GK remand prison,” prayed Kipyego.
The charge sheet states that on diverse dates between November 19th and 20th December 2014 at Elgon View estate in Kapseret sub county, Uasin Gishu County with intent to defraud, obtained from Mary Lucy Kurgat Sh8 million with a false promise that he was in a position to sell him land No Eldoret Municipality block no. 14/731 measuring 0.284 hectare, a fact he knew to be false.
The former athlete also faced a second charge of making a document without authority contrary to section 357(a) of the Penal Code.
He was further charged that on the same date and place, with intent to defraud, without lawful authority, he made a title deed no. Eldoret Municipality block 14/731, approximate area 0.2849 hectares, purporting to be a title deed made and issued by the Registrar of Land, Uasin Gishu County. He has denied all the counts.
The matter has been slated for hearing on September 7, 2026.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
