Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum died of severe head injuries that resulted from a tragic road accident, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed yesterday.

Speaking to the media after conducting a two-hour postmortem on Kiptum’s body at Eldoret Hospital mortuary, Oduor said his findings showed there were multiple injuries on the ribs and skull.

“From my findings after conducting a postmortem examination on Kiptum’s body, severe head injuries caused his death after he was involved in a fatal road accident,” Oduor stated.

Oduor, who was flanked by the family of the deceased among them his father Samson Cheruiyot, said they have taken samples from the body for further analysis in Nairobi.

The pathologist said there were also severe multiple fractures on Kiptum’s body, an indication he was the one on the driving wheel of the ill-fated car that killed him alongside his Rwandese coach Garvais Hakizimana.

On the fateful day, the marathoner was driving a Toyota Premio with two passengers that included his coach and a woman who was identified as Sharon Kosgey coming from Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu county, heading the Ravine direction.

Sharon, who survived the accident, was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where she was treated and discharged.

The vehicle which was badly damaged was towed to Kaptagat Police Station in Keiyo South Sub-county, Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Kiptum whose marathon record of two hours and 35 seconds was ratified just a week by the World Athletic was positioning himself to run under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon on April 14.
He will be buried tomorrow at his four-acre piece of land at Naiberi area in Moiben Sub-county, Uasin Gishu county.

Meanwhile, preparations for the burial have been finalised with President William Ruto among top dignitaries expected to attend.

Workers tasked with constructing a house for Kiptum’s widow and parents were yesterday rushing against time to complete the house ahead of the handing over today, as per Ruto’s directives.

Sources told People Daily the burial had been set for Saturday but was rescheduled to Friday due to President Ruto’s trip to Namibia on Saturday.

A spot-check yesterday revealed that activities were in top gear at Kiptum’s farm in Naiberi with the government taking over planning of the burial.

“The president is committed in ensuring Kiptum is accorded a befitting sendoff. The government had taken over the burial preparations but in coordination with the family,” a government official said.

According to Kiptum’s family spokesperson Philip Kiplagat, his body will leave the mortuary on Thursday (today) for his home in Chepsamo village in Chepkorio in Keiyo South for an overnight stay.

The body will then be taken to Chepsamo Primary School for a requiem mass before being buried in Naiberi in Uasin Gishu county tomorrow.

Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Garvais Hakizimana died last week on Kaptagat-Ravine Road while heading to Chepkorio.

Hakizimana’s was buried yesterday at his home in Kigali, Rwanda.
Hakizimana, the Rwanda 3,000 steeplechase national record holder, started working with Kiptum in 2019.
He made unsuccessful attempts at marathon before venturing into coaching.

Investigators have since intensified probe into the circumstances that resulted in the death of the duo.

Detectives familiar with the probe yesterday told People Daily initial investigation revealed the vehicle which claimed the life of the athlete had no mechanical problem.
Kiptum and Hakizimana died on Sunday at 11pm.