It was a somber morning at Eldoret Airport as the mortal remains of Orville Kimutai, a 23-year-old Kenyan scholar, arrived for his final resting place.
Gathered at the airport were friends and family members, united in grief as they awaited the return of their beloved.
Orville, from Elgeiyo Marakwet, was a promising young athlete who had traveled to Perth in March to further his education.
His life was cut short in a drowning incident at Stockton Lake, in West Australia’s town of Collie, on September 9. His body was retrieved the following day.
“The male required assistance in the water and was unable to be helped by members of the public on shore. Police attended the scene and commenced a search,” read a report by the Western Australia Police Force
The tragedy hit social media on September 13, when the family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for them to fly their son back for burial in his home at Kapteren, Keiyo north in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
A memorial service is set to take place on October 6 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret.
The final rites will be observed on Saturday, the 7th, as he is laid to rest at the family residence in Elgeiyo Marakwet.
