Kiptum died on his way to watch Afcon match

The late world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum had spent the better part of Sunday evening watching an English Premier League match at a popular spot in Eldoret, People Daily has established.
Jeremiah Kipkorir, the manager of Well Irish Pub and Restaurant, a facility that specialises in Irish cuisines located at Rupas Mall in Eldoret town said the athlete arrived in the evening at the joint to watch the Manchester United vs Aston Villa match that kicked off at 7.30pm.

Kiptum, who died alongside his Rwandese coach Garvais Hakizimana at 11pm on Sunday following a road accident on Kaptagat-Ravine road is said to have been in high spirits as he joined other revellers to cheer his favourite Man-U team thrash Aston Villa 2-1.

Some of the revellers who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter recall seeing Kiptum seated with three people among them a woman alongside other patrons as they watched the match.

“I popped into the restaurant some few minutes to 10pm to watch the Africa Cup of Nations match and I sat just a few steps behind Kiptum, who was in the company of three people, among them a woman. He was in a jovial mood,” he said.

He recalls the room where they were watching the premier league match from earlier was full, adding that he did not get the chance to interact with him.

“It is unfortunate that I did not get the chance to chat with him as I usually do whenever we meet in such joints in Eldoret town,” said the fallen runner’s fan.

He recounted that a few minutes past 10pm, the late Kiptum left the pub in huff while accompanied by the two people, saying that he was heading to Poa Place to watch the Afcon match between The Elephants from Ivory Coast and Super Eagles from Nigeria.

“I saw him leave in a huff while accompanied by two people including a lady saying that he was heading to Poa Place,” he recalled.

Another reveller said for the three years he has interacted with the slain runner, he was a flexible and down to earth man who avoided trouble and conflicts with other people.

“We were shocked when we received news of his death on Sunday night. In fact, we are yet to come to terms that he is no more,” he explained.

“He was the kind of person who wanted to make more friends than enemies with people he interacted with. You would rarely find him in bad company,” he said.

Family man

His wife Asenath Rotich yesterday disclosed that as it was his routine, Kiptum had woken up at 3.30am on Sunday and called his cousin who wanted to drive him to Flourspar area for his routine training.

However, he is said to have changed his mind and opted to instead go with his coach Hakizimana.
According to the wife, Kiptum had promised to take her and the children out after the training. 

“He later called in the evening informing me that he was feeling a little tired after a rigorous training and promised to come home on Monday evening instead, which we understood because of his rigorous training,” she recalled.

Asenath said Kiptum called her and even spoke with the children promising to call her during half time of the English Premier League match.

She said she then proceeded to prepare the children for bed and also retired to bed.

“I don’t know how long I had slept but I heard knocks on the door. When I opened, I discovered that it was my mother-in-law,” she recalled.

She said the mother-in-law told her to wake-up immediately as Kiptum had been hijacked near Kaptagat Junction on Kaptagat-Ravine Road.

Apparently,initially the family had thought that the athlete had been hijacked after his vehicle was spotted by the roadside by passers-by.

They later discovered that he had died and his body alongside that of his coach had been moved to Racecourse Hospital Mortuary in Eldoret.

Asenath yesterday described her late husband as a very hardworking man who loved his family. “He had big plans for us. He was just awaiting the approval of a housing plan to set up a house for us near Eldoret, build rental houses and open a business for me. He has left us at that tender age,” said the distraught mother of two.

She said her husband had hopes of lowering his world record to sub-two-hour mark and was to accompany him to the Rotterdam Marathon slated for April 14, in Holland.

Meanwhile, preparations are in top gear for the athlete’s burial with top senior government officials and world beating athletes being involved. Kiptum’s autopsy is slated for tomorrow and Thursday at the Eldoret Hospital.

Kiptum’s home in Chepsamo in Keiyo South continue to witness high activity as mourners continue to troop to condole with the family.

Leaders who visited the home yesterday among them Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii described Kiptum as a great athlete who had a bright future. 

“The late Kelvin Kiptum, embodied the power of dreams and hard work. He brought honour to his family, village, country and the world,” said Bii. “I call on the public to refrain from spreading any propaganda about the cause of the death.”

Kimaiyo said leaders from North Rift region will stand with the family during this time.  “We pray for his spouse and the children as well as his parents for God to comfort them,” said Kimaiyo. 

Kiptum was driving a Toyota Premio with two passengers on board — Hakizimana and a woman identified as Sharon Kosgey heading to Eldoret on Sunday night.