As Kenya and the world mourn the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, his father has come out to say unknown people visited his home four days before his son died.
Kiptum’s father claimed that the people refused to identify themselves when he asked them to.
“Walikuja nyumbani wakisema ni wageni. Wakasema wanataka wewe. Hii maneno imetokea nikafikiria sasa hii watu walikuja nyumabni walikuwa wanafanya uchunguzi gani kwa mtoto yangu. Walikataa kujitambulisha. Niliambia hao nipatieni makaratasi ya kuonyesha ya kwamba nyinyi ni watu ya serikali, walikataa.”
“They came to my home saying they were visitors and wanted to talk to me. Now that my son has died, I am asking myself those people who came to my home, what investigation were they conducting about my child. They refused to identify themselves. I told them to show me their credentials to prove if they were from the government, they refused.”
He urged the government to look into the death of his only child, asking for help to raise his grandchildren.
“Watoto naangalia nitafanya nini na mtoto wangu ameenda. Kama serikali wako na uwezo wanisaidie mimi sababu kijana angekuwa tungevuna mingi. Ile miaka yake iko naye 24 years niliona mbele nikaambia mungu aongoze hii kijana yangu.”
“I am looking at the children, I don’t know what I will do because my child is gone. If the government can help, am asking for help because if my son would be alive he would have earned more. He was young 24 years old, I saw his bright future and asked God to guide him.”
Kiptum’s death shocked many
Kiptum died at 11.00 pm on Sunday, February 11 following a car crash in Elgeyo Marakwet that killed him on the spot along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana. However, a female passenger they were with survived the crash and was taken to hospital.
Kenyans on Monday woke up to the news of his demise with political leaders and President William Ruto paying tribute to the talented athlete.
Eliud Kipchoge also sent condolences to his family through X, formerly Twitter. Kiptum broke Kipchoge’s 2022 Berlin marathon record during the 2023 Chicago Marathon, an achievement that saw him celebrated by his fellow countrypeople and the world’s athletics community.
The Cabinet Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports Ababu Namwamba said his ministry will work with the family to ensure Kiptum gets a sendoff befitting his contribution to Kenya’s athletics dominance.
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