A family in Nandi county is appealing to the government to help trace their son who has been missing since 2016 in France.
Nicodemus Kipng’etich Biwott, then aged 36, was an up and coming marathoner when he disappeared from Marseilles, France.
One evening he walked out of the apartment he shared with other athletes. He left behind his passport, all his documents and his phone. His family has never heard from him.
He is he third-born child in a family of six and his career was on an upward trajectory when he disappeared.
Biwott had participated in a number of African championships and later competed in Europe.
He had recorded very impressive times and it looked as though the sky was the limit for the runner who took part in international meets around Europe.
Family members said Biwott left Kenya in mid-2016 for the southern French port city of Marseilles for training and competitions he said were organised by his coach.
That was the last time his family heard of him. He only communicated with his parents and siblings via an intermediary.
Speaking to the Star at their Kamotony village home in Aldai subcounty, his mother Julia Bungei, 66, has only fond memories of her jovial son.
She retired from teaching in primary school in 2017. His father is a high school teacher.
The family is worried about the circumstances in which the marathoner left his Marseilles apartment, said to have been rented for him and other athletes by their coach as they trained and competed.
“We were informed that one evening in mid-2016, my son just walked out of the apartment, leaving behind his travel documents, identification cards and all his documents.
"He also left behind his mobile phone and never returned,” his mother said.
It is uncommon for emigrants to walk around in foreign countries without any travel documents in case they are stopped by security or immigration officers to check their status.
The family's efforts to get help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have hit a snag as they were told to first report a missing person to the Kenyan police.
His colleagues who were with him at the apartment said they tried to trace him with the Marseilles police. Their checks in hospitals and correctional facilities were fruitless.
“Six years is long enough for a parent to be worried…especially because he was not married…in our culture it’s enough to stress us, we wished he had left behind children who could comfort us,” Bungei said.
In 2016 in Portugal, Biwott pulled a surprise in a city marathon when he posted 2:16.007.
According to his passport, the athlete had travelled several times to Italy, Portugal and France to participate in marathons where he excelled.
“He was following in the footsteps of Eliud Kipchoge, a role model of sorts, having been living with his grandmother at Kebulonik, near Kipchoge's rural neighbourhood in Chesumei,” his mother, Bungei, said.
Gungei says her worries are compounded by claims reaching them that their son could have been arrested and entered different biographical details. Maybe he is being held in a correctional facility on charges of being an illegal immigrant, or some other offence.
According to sources among his peers, Biwott had been drinking a lot and had fallen into alcoholism. He was definitely in danger of being on the wrong side of the law.
“I was also informed he had become alcoholic," his mother said. However, his colleagues also said he had turned his life around and was concentrating on his talent.
Marseilles hosts thousands of emigrants from all over the world. As it is a seaport, it is known for crime and underworld activities.
The family is appealing to the Kenyan embassy in France to liaise authorities to help in locating their son.
Biwott is now 42 years of age.
“Our son got the best marks while in school. He went to Kebulonik primary and secondary schools before deciding to concentrate on athletics. He refused to go to college," his mother said.
She could not hold back her tears when this reporter promised her that when the Star runs her son's story, somebody might read it and know where Nicodemus Biwott could be.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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