Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang’o has said that athletes who represent Kenyans should be given security.
Addressing the House on Tuesday, Jalang’o said that the athletes should be treated as VIPs.
The legislator asked the government to launch a probe into the accident to establish the cause of the accident.
“Even as we mourn the death of Kelvin Kiptum, having listened to what his father said, I think there should be a thorough investigation into what caused the accident,” Jalang’o said.
“We need and request that our athletes be treated as Very Important Persons (VIPs) they should be given security and all our top athletes who represent the country and bring the accolades are always just celebrated, immediately they will get their medals and after that, they are forgotten.”
Kiptum passed away on Sunday night in a road accident at Kaptagat on the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road.
He was in the company of his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana who also died.
Kiptum’s death happened six days later after the IAAF ratified his record of 2:00:35.
Kiptum broke Eliud Kipchoge’s world record in Chicago last October, running 26.1 miles in two hours and 35 seconds.
Last week, his team announced that he would attempt to run the distance in under two hours at the Rotterdam Marathon – a feat that has never been achieved in open competition.
Kiptum’s father Samson Cheruiyot said some strange people visited his home looking for his son days before his death.
Speaking to Citizen TV, he said the group came to their home four days earlier looking for Kiptum but could not identify themselves.
They claimed to have come from the State House but could not produce identification to prove so.
Kiptum’s father asked the government to launch investigations into the death of his son.
Cheruiyot said the death of Kiptum, who is his only child has left him devastated as he had seen him as the only hope.
“Kiptum was my only child, his mother had a problem and the hospital advised us not to have other kids so we agreed to that,” he said.
