Hezekiah Nyamau, a prominent Kenyan athlete and gold medallist, has passed away. Reports indicate that he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nakuru County.
His granddaughter, Felister Nyamau, confirmed his death on Tuesday morning, saying that he had succumbed to cancer after a long battle.
Nyamau, who was 88 years old, was a legendary and prolific athlete in the late 1990s. During his time, he won gold in the 4x400 metre Olympic race in 1972 and silver in 1968.
He was also a Commonwealth Games 4x400 metre champion in 1970, the East and Central African 400 metre champion in 1972, and East and Central African 4x400 relay champion from 1967 to 1972.
Outside of sports, Nyamau was also a soldier. He joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 1963 and retired from the force in 1997. He later opened and ran a local business in Kiogoro, Nyamira.
In mid this year, he was admitted to the Kisii Specialist Hospital, where he underwent treatment after being diagnosed with cancer in February this year.
In an interview with NTV this year, the deceased's family members narrated how Nyamau's life drastically changed immediately after he left the military.
While appealing for help from the government, Nyamau's child disclosed that the father was struggling with speech and that, despite interventions, they had exhausted all the available resources to treat Nyamau.
"He was diagnosed with cancer in February this year. Since then, we have been in and out of the hospital," said Nyamau’s second-born child.
Adding: "We have exhausted all the family resources. The disease has taken a great toll on him. He has started to struggle with speech. We appeal to the government and well-wishers for support wherever possible."
Before his death, Nyamau had criticised President William Ruto's administration, accusing it of doing little to support ageing athletes who had brought Kenya glory on the international stage.
His death adds to the number of prominent Kenyan athletes who have passed away since the start of the year. Just a fortnight ago, another gold medallist, Jairus Birech, died.
Birech, a former 3000 metre steeplechase athlete, died on September 19 after suffering a brief illness. The 32-year-old was highly decorated, which got him ranked among the world's best steeplechase athletes.
In 2014, he won gold at the Africa Championships. In the same year, Birech won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2015, he again won gold at the Diamond League.
