Kiptum’s burial was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, with the government promising him a “heroic farewell”. A Kenyan athletics official told AFP on Tuesday that these “national funerals” had been rescheduled to accommodate the schedule of President William Ruto, who will be present. They will take place as planned in Chepsamo, the village in the Rift Valley (west) where the 24-year-old athlete and his family lived.
The death of Kiptum, who broke the world record last October during the Chicago marathon (2:00:35), sent shockwaves through the world of athletics.
Favorite of the Paris Olympic Games, he was killed on the night of Sunday February 11 to Monday after leaving the road in the town of Kaptagat, in the Rift Valley, not far from his place of residence and training. His trainer Gervais Hakizimana, also on board, was killed instantly.