President Ruto’s special plea to Kenyan athletes during Kelvin Kiptum’s burial
23rd February 2024
Ruto attended the event alongside Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
- The head of state made the plea during the funeral service of the late marathon world recorder that was held in Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
- Ruto described Kiptum as a great man who rose to the top of the world despite hailing from a humble background.
- Kiptum was laid to rest on Friday in his Naiberi home in Uasin Gishu County.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has urged Kenyan athletes to
make the 2024 Paris Olympic Games special in honor of Kelvin Kiptum.
The head of state made the plea during the funeral service
of the late marathon world recorder that was held in Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet
County.
“We had faith, we had hope that he would keep Kenya on the
world map even in the upcoming Olympics in Paris. But since we have you our
athletes and you have heard from all of us, Paris is going to be the Olympics
that is going to define this man Kelvin.
We want you to make Paris an Olympics for Kelvin Kiptum. Please help us and we know you can do it,” he noted.
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Ruto went on to describe Kiptum as a great man who rose to
the top of the world despite hailing from a humble background.
“It is a very heavy moment for us because in Kelvin we saw
the future of athletics in Kenya. Kelvin has stood out not only as a great
athlete but also good person. This young
man came from a family that is not known but today he is a world record
holder,” he added.
Moreover, he guaranteed Kiptum’s family that the government
will walk together with them during this difficult time.
He promised to give Kiptum’s widow Asenath Cheruto another
house and secure a government job for her.
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“To Asenath, I will sit down with your area governor and decide which type of job will suit you. So, that she can take care of the children of our late runner Kelvin Kiptum,” assured Ruto.
The funeral service was attended by athletics stakeholders
from all over the globe including the World Athletics President Sebastian Coe
and Tanzanian marathoner Gabriel Gerald Geay.
Other famous runners who graced the occasion include 800m
world record holder David Rudisha, Faith Kipyegon, Ezekiel Kemboi, Amos
Kipruto, Mary Moraa, and Julius Yego.
The late Kiptum, who set the current world record of 2:00.35 in Chicago in October 2023, was buried at his farm in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu County.
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