T. NashipaeLeaders, athletes, residents of Chepsamo village continue mourning sudden Kiptum’s demise
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 13.02.24. | 15:00
Kiptum passed on Sunday night in a road accident in the Kaptagat area alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana according to police reports
The air was heavy at Kelvin Kiptum’s home in Chepsamo Village in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Monday. Leaders, residents, and fellow athletes who often gathered to celebrate his victory at the international level now gathered to do the unbelievable; convey their condolences.
24-year-old Kiptum passed away on Sunday alonside his Rwandan Coach Gervais Hazimana , 11 February at around 11:07 pm after he lost control of his car along the Eldoret-Ravine highway, and veered off-road entering into a ditch on the left side. He is said to have driven in the ditch for about 60 meters before hitting a big tree.
Mozzart Sport visited the home of the legend where the usual vibrant surroundings were now draped in an atmosphere of gloom, with mournful faces reflecting the profound loss felt by the community.
“It is a very sorrowful day. I want to pass my sincere condolences to the family, my fellow athletes, and the country at large,” two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor offered.
Athletics Kenya Chairman Elgeyo Marakwet County was utterly devastated, calling on God not to punish the athletics fraternity in such a manner.
“The whole country, Elgeyo Marakwet, Chepkoiyo division, Kapkenda sublocation, and Chepsamo Village. I don’t even know what to say. Please God, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. Because of Kiptum’s future, only God knows. I pass my condolences to the family,” he cried out.
Chepkorio MCA John Kimeli expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family, and the entire athletics fraternity, noting that Kiptum’s bright future had been shattered within minutes.
“Sorry to the family and the athletics fraternity. This is unbelievable for us. I did not believe it until I went to the scene. I followed the body to the morgue and confirmed that it is true. I want to pass my condolences to the family, the entire country, and the athletics fraternity,” Kimeli offered.
Elgeyo Marakwet speaker Philemon Sabuley also conveyed his heartfelt sympathies, promising the devolved unit’s support in giving Kiptum a decent sendoff.
“We want to ask members of the country to pray for the departed and that we shall have peace in our hearts. We will join hands with the family and the sporting fraternity to ensure that Kiptum and his coach get a decent sendoff. Poleni sana to the Kenyans and the family of the departed hero,” Sabuley offered.
The mourners were also joined by Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who was lost for words following the tragic incident. The CS noted that Kiptum was destined to dominate and rule the world of marathon running for a long time, but death robbed the country of a real gem.
“It is a very dark day for our country, the athletics fraternity both in Kenya and across the world. We are lost for words for this horrible loss of a brilliant young man. On behalf of the Ministry, and the government of Kenya, we convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of Kiptum; his parents, his wife, and two children. We cannot start to imagine the scale of pain this has inflicted on them,” he averred.
According to relatives, Kiptum did not proceed to secondary school, choosing to train as an artisan electrician before training in the Kaptagat forest without a coach while herding his father’s cows.
He started his journey to marathon stardom by winning the Valencia Marathon in December 2022 and followed it with the 2023 London Marathon triumph where he set a course record before shattering the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October.
Last October Kiptum, 24-year-old athlete from Chepsamo village in Elgeyo Marakwet ran 2:00:35 shaving 34 seconds off the previous mark set by Eliud Kipchoge, who is the second fastest of all time in the marathon.
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