Kelvin Kiptum will be buried on February 24

Kelvin Kiptum, marathon world record holder and world athletics shooting star who died Sunday night in a car accident, He will be buried on February 24declared an official from the Kenyan Athletics Federation.

“We set the date of February 24 after consulting the family and the government about the funeral preparations and the protocol adopted,” he explained. Barnabas Korir, Kenya Athletics executive committee member.

The the ceremony will take place in Chepsamothe town in the Western Rift Valley where the 24-year-old athlete and his family live.

“We hope that the funeral will be attended by high dignitaries, including (Kenyan) President William Ruto and World Athletics President Sir Sebastian Coe”, he added. The government has assured that it will cover the funeral expenses.

“In honor of the late Kenyan marathon world record holder, a true national hero, the government will support Kiptum’s family by giving him a valiant and dignified farewell,” a government statement said on Wednesday. His performances, including his world record (2h00’35”) set last October at the Chicago Marathon, “have inspired millions of people around the world,” he added.

Kelvin Kiptum, the new phenomenon of Kenyan athletics, will be one of the attractions of the Paris Olympic Games. He died on Sunday night after running off the road in Kaptagat in the Rift Valley, not far from where he lived and studied. His coach Gervais Hakizimana, who was also on board, died instantly.

An inspection of the crashed car revealed that “it is in good condition,” said Dahir Abdullahi, police chief of Keiyo-Sud sub-county, where the accident occurred, The Nation newspaper quoted.