Kelvin Kiptum to be accorded state funeral, government announces
Government to give world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum a state funeral according to announcement CS Ababu Namwamba
Government to give world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum a state funeral according to announcement CS Ababu Namwamba.
According to Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, the government will collaborate closely with Kelvin Kiptum’s family to provide the world marathon record holder with a hero’s farewell.
The Sports Cabinet Secretary expressed profound sorrow over Kiptum’s passing, describing it as devastatingly sickening.
While addressing the press on Monday at the Talanta Plaza, Namwamba praised Kiptum as a hero who put Kenya on the global map after he broke the men’s marathon world record in October of last year by running a time of 2:00:35 in Chicago.
“We are consulting in government. We officially informed the president when this tragic accident immediately occurred and as soon as the consultations are concluded we will be making an official announcement on how we will proceed forward with final respect for him.
“Kiptum is a national hero and we will honour him in death as we honoured him in life,” Namwamba said.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the late athlete had just begun crafting his success story in the realm of sports before the cruel hand of death intervened.
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“Only last October, we feted and honoured Kelvin Kiptum after he shattered the marathon world record. We were excitedly looking forward to his target of becoming the first human to do sub-two hours and to his Olympic bow in Paris next summer.
Indeed, Kelvin was only getting started and was destined to rule the world of elite marathon running for a long time. The cruel hand of death has robbed Kenya and the world of a truly precious sporting gem. My deepest condolences to the family of Kelvin and the entire athletic and sporting fraternity. Rest well, champion,” he sadly noted.
Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died on Sunday night in a tragic road accident in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
According to a police report, Kiptum lost the control of his Toyota Premio which veered off-road entering into a ditch for 60m before hitting a tree.
Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot while another passenger identified as Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei survived the crash and was released from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on Monday.
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