Photos from Kiptum's final journey in Eldoret as Mourners begin 80km procession

Piece by: MATHEW

22 February 2024

• Mourners to make 80km procession through Eldoret, Iten town

Athletes, family members and friends are gathering at the Eldoret Hospital morgue to collect the body of World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

The body will travel escorted by a procession for about 80 km through Eldoret town to Iten town and then to his parent's home at Kipsamo village in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

The funeral programme indicates that the athletes will walk for about half a kilometer escorting the hearse in Eldoret town.

Athletics Kenya official Barnabas Korir says all set for the country to give Kiptum a heroes send-off.

"We will work closely with the family as we send off our hero," Korir said.

Residents of Iten town in his home county will be allowed to view the body when it arrives in the town at about 1 pm.

Last night hundreds of residents of Eldoret and athletes turned up for a procession and candle lighting in honour of the fallen athlete.

They staged the procession from the Eldoret Arboretum to the Nandi Park where the candle lighting was done.

From Iten town the body will be taken to a local church at Kipsamo where a brief service will be held followed viewing of the body and a night vigil ahead of the main funeral service and burial tomorrow.

President William Ruto is among the residents and international guests expected to attend the funeral service at Kipsamo Primary School on Friday.

Thereafter the body will be transported for another 15 kilometers to his new home at Naiberi where the final burial rights will be done.

The burial comes as the athlete's new house is being put up after President William Ruto ordered the construction of the house at Kiptum's farm located at Naiberi in Uasin Gishu county.

Engineers and workers have camped at the site to complete the new home before Thursday when the body will be removed from the Eldoret Hospital morgue.

The 24-year-old's death in a road accident nearly two weeks ago on his way home has devastated the farming community in Chepsamo village.

"He was always joking - we spoke on the night of his death and he was joking about the Africa Cup of Nations final," his mother Mary Kangongo told the BBC.