The funeral service for world record holder Kelvin Kiptum is underway at Chepkorio Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Among the guests to grace the ceremony include President William Ruto and World Athletics head Sebastian Coe.
Kenyans.co.ke is keeping you updated on a minute-by-minute basis. Keep refreshing this page for updates.
Watch the live funeral service below:
3:02 pm: The funeral service is over. Kiptum's body is moved to his home for burial rites.
2:41 pm: President Ruto reinstates the Sports Funds to deal with matters sports and instructs CS Namwamba to review the reward system to put up a pension scheme for all athletes.
2:23 pm: President William Ruto promises Kiptum's Family another better house under the Affordable Housing Programme. He also pledged to work with Governor Rotich to provide Kiptum's wife a job.
"We are committed to constructing a better home for Kelvin Kiptum, surpassing the one we have previously built for him. Ensuring he is remembered and honoured in a deserving manner."
2:02 pm: Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, in his tribute, aspires that the record Kiptum was planning to break, shall be broken by his children, Caleb and Precious.
1:46 pm: Sports CS Ababu Namwamba pays tribute to Kiptum and assures mourners that the government will fulfil its promises to the athlete's family.
1:23 pm: Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich urged the Sports Ministry to establish a department that will employ retired athletes as coaches.
1:02 pm: Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen appealed to President Ruto for athletes to be absorbed in parastatals.
"These athletes have made a difference through sports and sometimes we have over-glorified class education to the extent that we deny these athletes opportunities to serve in gov't just because of lack of paper. Their running exploits must count for something and must be rewarded to be a certificate. There's no problem to absorb in government parastatals," he noted.
12:49 pm: World Athletics President Sebastian Coe reaffirms that Kelvin Kiptum's achievements are secure in the annals of history.
“Kelvin, you will be missed. Our grief and sadness will take time to dissipate, rest assured, your achievements are treasured, indelible and secure in the annals of our history and never forgotten," he stated.
12:38 pm: Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei pledges support for athletes in various areas including education and infrastructure.
12:26 pm: Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo appeals to President William Ruto to build a stadium in the athlete's honour. He also urged Ruto to offer Asenath Rotich a job at the National Government.
12: 18 pm: Athletes kneel during the funeral service to receive prayers against the spirit of accidents.
12:04 pm: The athlete's children, Caleb and Precious, pay tribute to their father, noting that he was their role model.
12:02 pm: Kiptum's wife Asenath Rotich pays tribute to Kiptum. She revealed that they had planned to have a colourful wedding ceremony in April 2024.
11:37 am: Kiptum's mother breaks down as the choir sings a hymn in honour of the deceased athlete.
The priest also prays for the well-being of all athletes.
10:59 am: President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi arrive at Chepkorio Showgrounds.
10:36 am: Kapkenda Girls High School performs a song in memory of the athlete.
10:24 am: A grave site is currently being prepared at Kiptum's home in Naiberi where the house was constructed by the government.
9:56 am: Cabinet Secretaries Ababu Namwamba (Sports) and Florence Bore (Labour) view the body as they pay their final respects.
9:37 am: Mourners get a chance to pay their final respects to Kiptum ahead of the official start of the funeral service.
9:26 am: Notable athletes including double Olympic gold medallist Faith Kipyegon, marathon legend Catherine Ndereba and National Olympic Committee of Kenya President, Paul Tergat arrive at the showgrounds.
While paying tribute to the athlete, Kipyegon described Kiptum as a jovial person whose future was bright.
9:14 am: Kiptum's body arrives at Chepkorio Showgrounds for the funeral service.
9:02 am: The athlete's wife Asenath Rotich and his two children arrive at Chepkorio Showgrounds. Further,
8:41 am: Kiptum's body leaves his Chepsamo home for the funeral service at Chepkorio Showgrounds. The procession is flanked by a convoy led by Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) clerics, his relatives and mourners.
8:24 am: Kiptum's friends and guests arrive at Chepkorio Primary School for the burial ceremony. The organisers changed the venue after strong winds destroyed the tents at the Chepsamo venue.
8:10 am: Heavy security is deployed at Chepkorio Primary School ahead of the funeral service.
Kiptum spectacularly rose to fame after winning all of his races and breaking records in the process. In October 2023, he shattered the world record held by veteran Eliud Kipchoge by running 2:00:35 to clinch the Chicago Marathon title on his debut.
He was expected to be the next legendary athlete who would take the country's athletics industry to greater heights.
However, his demise threw the entire nation into mourning. The athlete will be laid to rest in Naiberi in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, where the government has built a new home for his family.
