Kenya’s Cabinet Approves a Hero’s sendoff for Marathon Champion

By Moses Muli

Published: Feb.,14 2024 6:36 PM(EAT)

The Kenyan government will help the family of the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a tragic road crash on Sunday, in offsetting his burial expenses.

This was announced in a Cabinet dispatch following a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on Wednesday, in which it was agreed that the departed marathoner gets a hero’s farewell.

“In honor of Kenya’s departed world marathon record holder, a true national hero, the Government will support Kiptum’s family in according him a befitting heroic farewell,” read the Cabinet dispatch.

“Cabinet also noted the ongoing interventions by the Ministry of Sports to better protect the country’s sporting icons, and urged all road users to uphold traffic laws and practice safe road use; two of the most important tools for preventing road accident tragedies such as the one that robbed Kenya and the world of Kelvin Kiptum.”

The Cabinet had earlier honored Kiptum during the start of the meeting where they held a minute of silence in remembrance of the late marathon great and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.

Kiptum, 24, was remembered in the meeting as a sporting great after he broke a world record previously held by Eliud Kipchoge in Chicago last year.

“Kiptum was a sporting powerhouse whose record-shattering achievements inspired millions worldwide. He remains the only human in history to run the marathon under two hours 1 minute, with his 2:00.35, he set a new world record in Chicago on 8 October 2023,” noted the Cabinet.

The announcement comes after Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba had on Monday stated that the government was in consultations to work closely with Kiptum’s family to give him a proper send-off.

The fallen world marathon record holder will be laid to rest on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the family home in Kaptagat.

Kiptum and Hakizimana died on Sunday night after being involved in a road accident in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet County whose impact could be seen in the heavily damaged vehicle they were travelling in.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have commenced investigations into the incident and three people have since been arrested.

The three men are said to have visited Kiptum’s home days before his fatal road crash and are currently detained at Iten Police Station for grilling.