National leaders among them president William Ruto are expected to attend the burial ceremony of the World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum set to take place at the Chepkorio show grounds in Keiyo South.
After the ceremony, Kiptum’s interment will take place at his Naiberi farm in Uasin Gishu County.
He died aged 24 years.
Among those expected to grace his final send-off include President William Ruto, state dignitaries, and dignitaries in the athletics profession.
Yesterday, the body of the late Kiptum was moved from Eldoret Hospital Morgue to Iten escorted by hundreds of people led by boda boda riders who kept honking while others sang songs to honour the legendary athlete.
The cortege proceeded to Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County where a church service was held at the ACK-Chepkorio diocese.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich and his Deputy Grace Cheserek then led members of the public for viewing at Iten Sports ground.
Kiptum died in a car accident along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret road alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana on the February 11, 2023.
Upon reaching the Kaptagat Forest area, on the Eldoret -Ravine road, he lost control and veered off-road landing in a ditch on his left side.
The car had two passengers – his 37-year-old Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana and 24-year-old Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei Keiyo. However, Chepkurui survived the accident.
Besides president , World Athletics head Sebastian Coe and other leaders are expected to be among the mourners at the funeral in the Rift Valley where Kiptum was born, trained and died.
According to the post mortem results conducted by the government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, the late Marathon World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum died from severe head trauma sustained during the car crash.