Residents of Nairobi are deeply grieving and frustrated over the tragic death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum. They are calling for an investigation into the systemic shortcomings that led to his premature passing.
Voices from the nation’s capital highlight the critical need for action to address issues of road safety and fight corruption, even as the country mourns the loss of a beloved champion.
Nairobi resident Brian Mwangi said, “He would have been the best marathon runner in the whole world who died mainly due to corruption.” Mwangi identified several road infrastructure flaws, such as the lack of guardrails and obvious markers, as contributing causes to the accident’s increased severity.
“For Kenya at large, this is a great loss, we have lost a champion,” stated
Like his fellow citizens, Damski Kisanya expressed his sorrow over the passing of a man with boundless potential and a bright future. Kisanya remarked, “What I can say is that God is going to raise other champions like Kiptum and Kipchoge,” demonstrating the athletic community in Kenya’s ability to persevere in the face of hardship. In spite of Kiptum’s passing, Kisanya voiced optimism for the rise of new heroes who will uphold his legacy and inspire future generations.
World record holder for marathons Kelvin Kiptum was murdered in a car crash in Kenya, along with his coach. Kiptum was expected to become a long-distance running superstar and be a strong contender for gold at the Olympics in Paris this year.
Having smashed the world record in just his third elite marathon appearance, Kiptum, then 24 years old, was one of the most intriguing prospects to emerge in road running in recent years.
Just last week, World Athletics, an international track body, affirmed the record he achieved at the Chicago Marathon the previous year.
Their car was the only one hurt in the late-Sunday collision, and Kiptum was driving when it went off the road, into a ditch, and then struck a tree, according to the police.
