The demise of one of Kenya’s heroes shook not only the nation but the world at large. Kenyan 24-year-old Kevin Kiptum’s death has left a big hole in the world of athletics given that he was well on his way to take over from Marathons Greatest of all time Eliud Kipchoge.
Just like Moses Kiptum will not see the promised land, following the tragic carnage that took his life on Sunday 11 February 2024.
Many other Kenyan athletes have also been victims of road carnages some were near fatal and others like Kiptum were taken from us.
In December 2010 Former world marathon record holder and Kenya’s national Olympic Council President Paul Tergat survived a road accident near Eldoret he termed it “a miracle.”
The five times world cross country champion and twice Olympic 10,000 meters silver medalist sustained minor injuries after the driver’s side of his Mercedes Benz was wrecked.
“I wanted to overtake a stationary lorry when I saw another lorry coming from the opposite direction,” Tergat stated
“I was caught between the stationary lorry and the oncoming one and was struck by the latter. It was a miracle that I survived.”
in November 2013, Asbel Kiprop’s damaged BMW X 6.The 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2011 and 2013 world champion at 1500 meters was driving in Iten when he lost control of his car on a sharp turn and the vehicle came within a meter of going over a cliff. Fortunately, a rock wedged under the car prevented it from going any further, avoiding catastrophe.
In October 2016, Julius Yego’s Toyota Prado 4×4 damaged after a serious road accident along Kapsoya Road. The world men Javelin Champion’s escaped with minor injuries and was treated at Eldoret Mediheal Hospital.
Two years later, On August 8th 2018, Kenya woke up to the devastating news of the death of 400m hurdles World Champion (2015) Nicholas Bett at the age of 26 years old.
Bett the first Kenyan to win a short-distance gold medal on the world perished after his car rammed onto unmarked multiple road bumps along Kapsabet-Ainabkoi Highway
One month later one of Nicholas Betts’s oldest friends and compatriots, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto was lucky to escape unhurt after a road accident on along Eldoret–Kapsabet road.
The accident, which happened close to the Eldoret International Airport involved Kipruto’s car and a tractor, which were said to have been moving in the same direction.
2019, David Rudisha’ damaged Landcruiser V8 after a serious road accident along Keroka-Sotik road.
The two-time back-to-back Olympic champion survived and was treated at Keroka Sub-County Hospital.
On Sunday 11 february 2024 the World was shocked to learn of the death of World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum who died in a grisly road accident.
Kiptum died alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana, a Rwandan national, along Eldoret-Kaptagat road, as confirmed by family and traffic base commandant Dennis Muga.
Kiptum dies just days after World Athletics ratified his record of 2:00:35 – a record he set at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.
The 24-year-old chalked 34 seconds off the previous record of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge on September 25, 2022, in Berlin.
ALSO READ: Promising Kenyan athletes who lost their lives at the prime of their careers
