Gervais Hakizimana: Family of Kelvin Kiptum's coach will receive support from Kenya
- Published
Gervais Hakizimana (right) celebrated with Kelvin Kiptum after the latter set a new marathon world record in Chicago last October
Kenya's government will donate 5m Kenyan shillings (£26,964) to support the family of athletics coach Gervais Hakizimana following his death.
The Rwandan, 36, died alongside Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, whom he coached, in a road accident on 11 February.
The announcement from Kenya's sports cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba came as Hakizimana's funeral was held in Kigali on Wednesday.
"In losing Hakizimana alongside Kiptum, Kenya, Rwanda, East Africa, and Africa have lost big time," said Namwamba.
Kiptum had set a new marathon record in Chicago last year, clocking a time of two hours and 35 seconds to better compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's previous mark over 26.2 miles (42km) by 34 seconds.
The 24-year-old celebrated alongside Hakizimana, who had begun coaching him in 2018.
"It was really a collaboration made in heaven," Namwamba added.
"Observing the two young men, you could see this was not just a coach and an athlete. They were brothers. Brothers in life and as they are brothers in death.
"We have two young men who have exited the stage when the dance was just starting, and we celebrate their lives and will remember them eternally."
Hakizimana was buried in the presence of many Rwandan and Kenyan athletes and family members, but, to the surprise of many, the Rwandan government was not represented at the ceremony.
Hakizimana 'wanted to make world proud'
Hakizimana's widow Joan Chelimo (right) said "life has crashed" since his death
Hakizimana's widow Joan Chelimo said "anybody can understand the pain" she was going through after losing her husband.
"He was very loving and caring, he was the best person one could ever have," she added.
"I have not come to terms that Gervais is no more. It so difficult for me and my daughter, who is very young, to understand what is going on.
"We had so many plans for our life and for our daughter."
Hakizimana had hoped Kiptum would become the first man to break the two-hour barrier in a competitive marathon, and the pair were aiming to attempt that feat at the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
Chelimo said Hakizimana was dedicated to helping Kiptum achieve that goal.
"He said, 'I want you to give me time, I want you to sacrifice because I want to go to Eldoret. I want to go and put more effort [in] on Kelvin'," she said.
"He told me, 'I want to make Kenya proud, I want to make Rwanda proud, and also I want to make the world proud'.
"Life now has crashed and I don't know where to start from. It is not easy."
Kiptum will be buried in his home village of Chepsamo in western Kenya on Friday.