Kelvin Kiptum: President Ruto, World Athletics boss in attendance as world bids farewell to fallen marathon great

© Anne Soy X.

ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum: President Ruto, World Athletics boss in attendance as world bids farewell to fallen marathon great

Joel Omotto 05:15 - 23.02.2024

President William Ruto will be among those present as the world says goodbye to world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum who will be buried on Friday.

World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum will finally be laid to rest on Friday after two weeks of mourning following his tragic demise on February 11.

Kiptum died following a road accident that also claimed the life of his friend and coach Rwandan Gervais Hakizimana who was buried in Kigali on Wednesday.

President William Ruto and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe are among those in attendance as the world bids goodbye to a sporting hero, whose heroics had captured global attention before his sudden demise at the tender age of 24.

Kiptum will be buried at his home in Naiberi in Uasin Gishu county, a place his family will now call home after the government constructed a new house for them following an order from President Ruto.

The body of Kiptum left the Eldoret Hospital morgue on Thursday and headed to Iten in Egeyo Marakwet county where fellow athletes joined the public in viewing it.

His colleagues would carry his body as it headed for a requiem mass at ACK St Peter’s Church, Chepkorio in his home area.

© Anne Soy X.

The body was then taken to his Chepsamo village in Keiyo South Constituency where it spent the night ahead of Friday’s ceremony which will be conducted at Chepkorio grounds.

Athletes and fans have been paying their last respects to Kiptum, starting with his colleagues who gathered in Iten and lit candles in his honour last Sunday before they led a 10km walk to celebrate him the following day.

On Wednesday, thousands of fans turned out in Eldoret town and also lit candles while singing songs in his honour and the same also happened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Thursday night.

The marathon great’s family has also received support from the government who not only have built a new house for them but also catered for his funeral expenses while his management company Golazo has promised to ensure all his earning in their custody reaches his wife and children.

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