Kenyan MPs honour Kiptum amid calls to better protect athletes
NAIROBI: Kenyan lawmakers observed a minute’s silence on Tuesday in honour of marathon star Kelvin Kiptum after his death in a late-night car crash, and appealed for better support protection for the country’s sporting talent.
Kiptum, who smashed the world marathon record last year, was killed along with his Rwandan coach in the accident near his home in the Eldoret area of Kenya’s Rift Valley on Sunday.
His death at the age of just 24 shocked his homeland and the world of athletics, with his compatriot, the marathon legend
Eliud Kipchoge, leading tributes to the “rising star”.
In Nairobi, members of parliament bowed their heads for a minute of silence for the man who rose from humble beginnings as a goat herder to record three of the seven fastest marathon times in history. He was a favourite for marathon gold at the Paris Olympics later this year, where he was due to face off against Kipchoge for the first time after slashing 34 seconds off his older rival’s world record in Chicago in October.
“At the young age of 24 years, Mr Kiptum had achieved what many athletes could only dream of,” said Ng’elechei Caroline Jeptoo, MP for Elgeyo Marakwet County where the accident occurred.
“He was a beacon of hope not only to people of his village but also to the many in the country and beyond.” Several lawmakers called for a full investigation into the crash and for better protection of the nation’s athletes.
Police said Kiptum was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret around 11pm (2000 GMT) Sunday when the accident occurred.
A police report said the father of two had lost control of the car and veered into a ditch before hitting a tree. Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed on the spot while a woman passenger was injured.
Local police official Abdullahi Dahir told the Citizen TV broadcaster on Tuesday that police would record witness statements as part of an inquiry into the accident.
Kiptum’s death is the latest in a saga of tragedies to hit Kenyan sports stars.
“As we mourn, some actions must be taken by the ministry of sports... they must take our athletes seriously,” said Kiptum’s local MP Gideon Kimaiyo. —AFP