Jumbe za rambirambi zinaendelea kutolewa na viongozi mbalimbali nchini, kufuatia kifo cha ghafla cha mwanariadha Kelvin Kiptum akiwa na umri wa miaka 24. Kiptum alikuwa mshikilizi wa rekodi ya dunia katika mbio za Marathon. Mwanamichezo huyo pamoja na mkufunzi wake kutoka Rwanda Garvais Hakizimana walifariki katika ajali ya barabarani usiku wa Jumapili 11.02.2024.
Bingwa huyu aliiingia katika vitbu vya kumbukumbu kwa kuwa mwanariadha wa kwanza kukimbia mbio za marathon kwa muda wa chini ya saa mbili na dakika moja alipoandikisha muda wa 2:00:35 katika mbio za Chicago mwezi Octoba 2023.
Kiongozi wa taifa, Rais William Ruto, katika taarifa iliyotolewa kwenye mitandao yake ya kijamii, amemtaja Kiptum kama mwanamichezo aliyekuwa na athari kubwa katika riadha nchini Kenya. Rais Ruto amemtaja Kiptum kama mwanariadha aliyekuwa na uwezo mkubwa ndani na nje ya uwanja.
Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record.
He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in other top competitions. His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum… pic.twitter.com/Ff7nild1CG
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 12, 2024
Viongozi wengine akiwemo Naibu wa Rais Rigathi Gachagua, Mkuu wa Baraza la Mawaziri Musalia Mudavadi, Kinara wa Azimio Raila Odinga, na mwenzake wa Wiper Kalonzo Musyoka, pia wametoa jumbe za rambirambi.
Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon. Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/1Dmgyyhsk4
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) February 11, 2024
Waziri wa Michezo nchini, Ababu Namwamba, katika taarifa yake, ameeleza dhamira ya serikali kumwomboleza kama shujaa. Namwamba amepongeza mchango wa Kiptum katika kukuza michezo nchini na amehakikisha kuwa serikali itashirikiana kikamilifu na familia ya marehemu katika kipindi hiki kigumu.
The @moyasa_ke alongside @athletics_kenya has this morning addressed the nation on the sad demise of marathon world record holder, #KelvinKiptum pic.twitter.com/Q6toibzbfk
— Hon Ababu-Namwamba, EGH🇰🇪 (@AbabuNamwamba) February 12, 2024
