United in grief:Athletes mourn Kelvin Kiptum ahead of his burial Friday

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Eldoret town residents thronged the city centre in a night vigil held to honor  demised World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

Hundreds of City residents lit candles while others lit their mobile phone torches as they remembered the marathon hero who will be buried at his home in Uasin Gishu.

The funeral service will be held Friday at Chepsamo Secondary School grounds where President William Ruto is expected to attend.

The body of the late Kiptum was moved from Eldoret Hospital mortuary on Thursday. Boda boda riders escorted the cortège procession honking horns as others sang gospel songs for 80km from Eldoret Town to Iten.Thereafter a prayer service was held at ACK Chepkorio .

Later on a public viewing was held at Iten Sports ground with Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich and his Deputy Grace Cheserek leading members of the public in viewing Kiptums  body. Kiptum will be laid to rest Friday  at his Naiberi home. The burial ceremony will be attended by President William Ruto, among other state and athletics dignitaries.

Kiptum, The world record holder died   in a car accident along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret road alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana   on the 11th of this month. According to the post mortem results conducted by the government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, the late Marathon World Record  died from severe head trauma sustained during the car crash.

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