Kiptum burial plans in top gear as date set for funeral ceremony

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ATHLETICS Kiptum burial plans in top gear as date set for funeral ceremony

Festus Chuma 11:00 - 14.02.2024

Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum's burial plans unfold as the nation mourns his untimely demise in an accident.

Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum's final journey to rest in peace is swiftly taking shape as plans for his burial ceremony intensify. 

The proposed date for the solemn event is February 24, pending final confirmation.

 The 24-year-old running sensation, whose untimely demise shocked the nation, will find his eternal resting place in his hometown of Chepkorio in northwest Kenya.

"We may be laying to rest Kelvin on Saturday, February 24th, and we want to invite Kenyans of goodwill, friends, leaders, and everyone to give him a befitting sendoff. The family is humble and in need of support as Kelvin has been a pillar for the entire community," a member of the burial committee shared with reporters.

Ministry of Sports is poised to spearhead the funeral arrangements in close consultation with Kiptum's bereaved family. 

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba affirmed that Kiptum, hailed as a national hero, would receive posthumous honors reflective of his impactful life.

"Kiptum will be honored in death as he was in life," Namwamba remarked.

The Kenyan parliament echoed the sentiment of national mourning by observing a minute's silence in honor of Kiptum's legacy.

Tragically, Kiptum's promising journey came to an abrupt end on Saturday night, succumbing to injuries sustained in a fatal accident at Kaptagat Forest along the Eldoret-Ravine road.

The government's intervention in overseeing the funeral arrangements is poised to alleviate the burdens faced by Kiptum's father, Samson Cheruiyot.

Kiptum's untimely departure robs the athletics world of a rising star set to embark on another record-breaking season. 

Scheduled to kick off his campaign at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, Kiptum harbored ambitions of shattering the elusive two-hour barrier, having already etched his name in history by surpassing the marathon world record with a remarkable time of 2:00:35 in Chicago last year, surpassing the legendary Eliud Kipchoge's record by 34 seconds.

During his meteoric ten-month marathon career, Kiptum claimed victory in prestigious races in Valencia and London, cementing his status as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.

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