The government of Kenya will provide a donation of 5 million Kenyan shillings (£26,964) to assist the family of athletics coach Gervais Hakizimana following his passing.
The 36-year-old Rwandan, along with Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, whom he trained, tragically passed away in a road accident on February 11th.
Kenya’s sports cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba made the announcement as Hakizimana’s funeral took place in Kigali on Wednesday.
“In losing Hakizimana alongside Kiptum, Kenya, Rwanda, East Africa, and Africa have lost big time,” said Namwamba.
Last year, Kiptum achieved a new marathon record in Chicago, completing the race in two hours and 35 seconds. This time surpassed his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s previous mark over 26.2 miles (42km) by 34 seconds.
The 24-year-old celebrated this accomplishment with Hakizimana, who had been coaching him since 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 laid to rest in the company of numerous Rwandan and Kenyan athletes and relatives. However, it was surprising to note the absence of representation from the Rwandan government at the ceremony.
Hakizimana ‘wanted to make world proud’
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 envisioned Kiptum as the first individual to surpass the two-hour mark in a competitive marathon. The duo had plans to pursue this endeavor at the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
Chelimo stated that Hakizimana was fully committed to assisting Kiptum in attaining this objective.
“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’s burial will take place in his hometown of Chepsamo in western Kenya on Friday.