Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei has told mourners at Kelvin Kiptum’s funeral that he wants the government to promise lasting financial security to top athletes, many of whom have just 10 to 15 years of being in their physical prime to capitalise on their talent.

He urged MPs to come up with new laws that take care of "the heroes now and in the future", adding that they were ready to help in the drafting of that legislation.

Several speakers have been calling for the government to support the family of the late Kelvin Kiptum, including a government job to be given to the widow, Asenath Rotich

The local MP, Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo, said that Kiptum’s family looked up to him for help.

The senator, William Kisang, thanked the government for building a house for the family, while asking the government to give Ms Rotich a job.

Image source, NTV Jenya

Kelvin Kiptum's wife wept during her tribute to the athlete, during which she revealed that they were to hold a wedding celebration in April.

The couple had had in a traditional wedding in 2017, but were yet to have a formal one.

"We have been planning for a big day to tie our knot in a colourful wedding ceremony in April 2024, but God's plans are greater," Asaneth Rotich said, before pausing after she was overwhelmed with emotion.

"I'll still make my vows of love even in your rest... You've been the best husband and father to our children," Ms Rotich said.

Local MP Gideon Kimaiyo has called on the government to build a stadium in honour of the marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum at the funeral in western Kenya.

He said the area had produced many athletics record holders, adding that the government had not been able to provide support to these athletes.

"To the president, they are asking that the government builds a stadium here, to be called the Kevin Kiptum Stadium, so that they are able to remember him."

A foundation will be created to honour Kelvin Kiptum by carrying on his humanitarian work, Jack Tuwei, the president of Kenya's athletics governing body has said.

Mr Tuwei noted that Kiptum had been paying school fees for some children in his village.

"To keep the memory of Kelvin Kiptum alive and support his family and community, Golazo is launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation. The fund will predominantly provide continued financial support for education and infrastructure," Mr Tuwei said at Kiptum's funeral.

Golazo is the marketing agency that was working with Kiptum.

The foundation would be supported by the governing body, Athletics Kenya, Mr Tuwei said, adding that it would ensure all pending payments owed to Kiptum be made to the foundation.

Image source, NTV Kenya

The head of the World Athletics governing body, Sebastian Coe, has told mourners in Kenya that Kelvin Kiptum's death was "one of the saddest days in the history of this great country".

He told the gathering:

A house that the government has been building for Kelvin Kiptum is now ready.

Before his death, the marathon world record holder had been planning to build a house on land he had bought near his rural home.

Just seven days ago, President William Ruto gave instructions for a house to be constructed for the athlete's family before Kiptum's burial.

Kenyans have been following the project's progress from the first day to its completion.

Local media have been sharing the photos of the now-furnished house, built in seven days.

Bishop Paul Korir, who is presiding over Kelvin Kiptum's funeral in Kenya’s western town of Chepkorio, has remembered the athlete as a "humble" and "down-to-earth" person with a "spirit of simplicity and humility".

"He connected truly and sincerely with the ordinary. In his life and vocation and career, [he] connected to the ordinary people who experience a life of pain, scarcity and suffering almost on daily basis," the Anglican cleric said.

"He dined with the high and mighty and at the same time he played pool with the very simple and ordinary here at Chepkorio centre."

Anne Soy
BBC News, Chepkorio

Image source, Reuters

Figures from the world of athletics as well local people have been paying tribute to Kelvin Kiptum as they attended the marathon world record-holder's funeral.

Speaking to the BBC as they arrived at the service in the town of Chepkorio where Kiptum did all his training, several spoke of their shock at his death.

Faith Kipyegon, the current world record holder for the 1,500m, said: "Kiptum was really unique. I think he had a lot in store, I think this was the year for Kiptum to run [under two hours].

"I only say, ‘Rest in peace Kiptum. We will miss you.’

Paul Tergat, celebrated veteran Kenyan athlete, said: "Since he arrived almost three years ago he has re-written history. He has a legacy that we’ve never seen in this world. We are here today to pay him our last respects and also to celebrate what he has achieved in a very short time."

Local resident Susan Jerotich, 50, said: "I feel pain and shock. He would have been a great support to the community and family. He was our light. He’s motivated many. We used to say to our children: 'Be like Kiptum.’”

Image source, Reuters

The 2022 London Marathon champion, Amos Kipruto - who has been one of the pall bearers at the funeral of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum - says his heart is heavy and painful.

In an interview with the BBC's Celestine Karoney he paid tribute to his friend.

He says if he gets a chance to run in the upcoming Olympics in Paris, he will do it in honour of Kiptum "because he was having big plans.

“We are all rivals in races but in friendship we are together.”

Image source, BBC/Anne Soy

Numerous top dignitaries are among those attending Kelvin Kiptum's funeral.

Several Kenyan political leaders are there - led by President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Kenya's sport and athletics communities are also represented, including Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba, Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei and Paul Tergat, the country's National Olympic Committee president.

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, is also in attendance.

Kenyans have gathered for the funeral of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

President William Ruto is among leaders who will be paying their last respects to the athlete before he is laid to rest.

Here are some of the photos as his body arrived for the service in western Kenya:

Image source, AFP

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has pardoned 51 prisoners who had been jailed for committing violence and crimes "against state security" during the country's 2010 post-electoral crisis.

The West African country was plunged into violence after incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to Mr Ouattara, whom the electoral body had declared the winner of a disputed run-off poll.

During the crisis that lasted from November 2010 to April 2011, more than 3,000 people were killed and over 150 women sexually abused, external, a report by Human Rights Watch said.

The pardoned offenders include General Brunot Dogbo Ble, who was a top military official under Mr Gbagbo.

He led the elite Republican Guard, which was accused of committing several of the killings.

The gesture of pardoning the offenders is part of President Ouattara's "commitment to work resolutely to consolidate peace", the AFP news agency reported, citing an official statement.

Nigerian authorities have arrested 50 suspected internet fraudsters, nearly all of them students of Kwara State University in the west.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement on Thursday that the 48 students and two others were arrested in their various hideouts following days of surveillance.

It said it recovered “nine exotic cars, 24 laptops and different brands of phones” from the suspects, who are said to have been living a lavish lifestyle.

The agency is also quoted by local media as saying that they “swung into action to free the state of corruption and other nefarious activities of ‘yahoo-yahoo boys'”, referring to the name given to online fraudsters.

The agency has posted on social media, external pictures of the suspects as well as the impounded items.

The suspects will soon be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations, the EFCC said.

Image source, Shutterstock

France has expelled a Tunisian preacher accused of hate speech, the country's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has said.

"The radical imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest," Mr Darmanin's posted on X, formerly Twitter, external.

He was sent back to Tunisia via a Thursday evening flight, the Reuters news agency reported, citing French media reports.

The expulsion order, according to French media, says he promoted an "intolerant and violent" version of Islam that would encourage behaviour against French values, discrimination against women, "tensions with the Jewish community" and "jihadist radicalisation".

Mr Mahjoubi caused controversy after a video of him describing the "tricolour flag" as "a satanic flag" with "no value with Allah" went viral earlier this week.

He did not specify which flag he was talking about, but many assumed he meant the French flag, which has three colours.

Mr Mahjoubi denied any wrongdoing and said that the statement in the video was misinterpreted.

His lawyers say he will appeal.

The preacher was expelled under a new immigration law that makes it easier for the French government to forcibly remove foreign residents from the country.

"This is the demonstration that the immigration law, without which such a rapid expulsion would not have been possible, makes France stronger. We won't let anything go," Mr Darmanin said.

Opposition politicians have accused the government of President Emmanuel Macron of pandering to the far right.

Anne Soy
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

The men’s marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, is due to be buried later on Friday at his home in Eldoret in western Kenya.

Kenyan President William Ruto will lead mourners in honouring a brilliant and promising athlete who set and broke records in his brief running career.

Kiptum died in a car crash, aged only 24, two weeks ago.

Thousands have paid tribute to Kiptum in his hometown.

Crowds gathered along the way in Eldoret as the hearse was driven to his village ahead of the burial.

His career as an athlete was only just starting.

In two years, he’d run three of the seven fastest marathons in history, broken the world record and set the London course record.

He had set his sights on running a sub two-hour marathon in Rotterdam this April.

Image source, AFP

Senegal President Macky Sall has said he will stand down on 2 April when his term is due to end, but it is still unclear when elections will be held to elect his successor.

He said the date of the elections will depend on the planned national dialogue that is set to begin on Monday, and which includes civil society groups, political parties and candidates.

"On 2 April 2024 my mission as the head of Senegal comes to an end...I would like this debate to be clearly settled,” he said during a televised interview.

His announcement assuages fears that he was planning to extend his term, amid a political crisis.

Mr Sall has been under pressure to announce an election date since attempting to delay it earlier this month.

He had wanted to postpone the elections to December so that disputes over the eligibility of other candidates could be resolved.

But the country's top court said the delay was unconstitutional, and called for the election to be held "as soon as possible".

On Thursday, Mr Sall said he didn’t think elections could be held before he steps down.

It’s unclear who would be leading the country after Mr Sall’s mandate expires and before the elections are completed. Mr Sall said he was certain there would not be a void.

He said he would consider freeing his rivals, including opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, whose detention led to nationwide protests last year.

Read more:

• Senegal steps back from the brink - what next?
• 'We feel betrayed by President Macky Sall'
• Why West Africa's united front is in tatters

Image source, Getty Images

A court in Uganda has sentenced more than 100 women to one month of community service each after they confessed to sending their children to beg in the capital, Kampala.

The court has also banned the women from returning to the city and ordered that they be sent back to their home district of Napak in northern Uganda, privately owned Daily Monitor newspaper reported.

The women pleaded for leniency, with some saying they were widows and others single mothers, state-owned New Vision newspaper reported.

"I have listened to their cries and a [jail] sentence would be inappropriate. I have to enforce a deterrent sentence...I will sentence them to community service. In default, you will serve one month of imprisonment," the judge in the case, Magistrate Edgar Karakire, was quoted as saying by the Daily Monitor.

Sending children to solicit or beg for alms is against Uganda's child protection laws and carries a maximum sentence of six months.

The women had been arrested last month during a crackdown to eject beggars from the capital, ahead of three international summits that were hosted there.

The children were taken to the Masulita Children's Village in central Uganda, which hosts rescued children.

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Russia's embassy reportedly warned of possible unrest in Guinea, angering its military rulers.