Former Boston marathon champion Sharon Jemutai Cherop.Former Boston marathon champion Sharon Cherop has been caught in a multi-million shilling property row with her former husband, Mathew Bowen.
Cherop and Bowen – also a former international athlete – ended their marriage in October last year after Cherop filed for divorce before Principal Magistrate Peter Ireri in Eldoret.
She accused her estranged husband of infidelity, violence, absenteeism and cruelty.
Bowen is currently an athletics coach in the US.
Ireri found their marriage irretrievably broken and allowed the divorce. They have four children who are currently under the custody of Cherop.
The two are now fighting over their assets before Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the High Court.
The disputed assets include land registered as Kaptagat/Kaptagat Block 3 (Misoi) 622, which consists of a matrimonial home estimated to cost Sh34 million in Kipkorgot along the Eldoret-Ravine highway.
Sharon is represented in court by Isiaho Sawe, while her ex-husband is represented by Reece Mwani.
Another prime property the two are fighting over is Uasin Gishu/Kimumu Settlement Scheme /4994, whose value, according to court documents, is Sh40 million.
Also disputed is a rental property a few metres from the University of Eldoret along Eldoret-Ziwa. The property brings rental income of Sh260,000 per month.
Cherop and Bowen are also tussling over ownership of the Beauty Smile and Cosmetics business in Eldoret Central Business District, valued at Sh5 million.
They are also embroiled in a bitter tussle over a Sh5 million property known as Uasin Gishu/Kimumu settlement Scheme 4994 along the Eldoret-Iten highway.
Bowen pleaded with the court to allow him to keep the said properties, saying he single-handedly acquired and developed them.
The former elite runner turned coach accused his former wife of fraudulently registering their former matrimonial home in her name.
He says Cherop used a court order to evict him from their matrimonial home in Kipkorgot.
“I purchased and developed the aforesaid properties before 2024 and also set up a business known as Beauty Smile and Cosmetics in Eldoret town, which is worth Sh15 million and is currently being run by my former wife,” Bowen says.
He faulted his former wife for not complying with a court order which stated that all rental income from the storey building be deposited in their joint bank account.
“Some time in October 2020, my former wife issued a notice to my tenants to start paying rent through her personal account, hence the genesis of our disagreement,” Bowen said.
He now wants the court to share the disputed properties in accordance with the contribution each person made towards the acquisition.
“Your lordship, it is my proposal that my former wife should get 1/4 of the property and I be given 3/4 of the property,” Bowen said.
In her rejoinder, Cherop said she acquired the assets from the money she earned from local and international races.
“I was able to acquire and develop the properties, including the matrimonial home, during my active life in athletics. I used my own finances on the acquisition”, she says.
The two solemnised their union in 2008 and were blessed with four children.
“My husband started assaulting me severely, rendering our marriage unsustainable. Due to his violent nature, I had to seek restraining orders for my safety and that of our children,” she said.
In her prayers to the court, Cherop wants the properties shared proportionately according to their contribution or in such other manner as the court may deem fit and just.
“I face the danger of losing all my past investment should my ex-husband retain the sole occupation, possession or control of the said properties which were acquired by my sole efforts," she said.
”If not for my financial position, the suit properties would not have been acquired, as I solely contributed to their acquisition and also development. The Judge set a further hearing of the case on September 16, 2025
