Processions, candle-lighting held in honour of Kiptum

Athletes and local leaders held processions and candle-lighting events in honour of fallen World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach.

The 10km processions were held in Iten and Kapsabet towns ahead of Kiptum's burial.

He will be buried on Friday.

Hundreds of athletes turned up for the events in Iten town where deputy governor Grace Cheserek announced the county government would help in establishing the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation to mentor young runners.

"As a county, we have lost a hero. We are here to stand with his family and bid him farewell as we look to keep his legacy in memory," Cheserek said.

Athletes present mourned their colleague as a hero with a great vision, especially for upcoming runners.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) similar processions and candle lighting will be held in Eldoret town.

Burial arrangements are in top gear as engineers work to complete a new house at Kiptum's farm near Naiberi in Uasin Gishu county where he will be buried.

Chief government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor is expected in Eldoret to perform a postmortem on the body of Kiptum which is at the Eldoret hospital morgue.

On Thursday Kiptum's body will be removed from the morgue and escorted by a procession through the streets of Eldoret on the way to his home.

President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua are among local and international guests expected to attend Kiptum's funeral service on Friday.

Ruto ordered the construction of a new house for Kiptum ahead of burial as part of the state honour for the deceased runner.

World athletics officials were also expected to arrive ahead of the burial.