Kenyan athlete who was based in Japan finally laid to rest in Njoro

Hitachi Long Distance Team Head Coach Satoru Kitamura (right) and other mourners carry the casket bearing the remains of Cynthia Njeri Mbarire, 21, an athlete who passed away on April 13 in Japan on May 6, 2023, during her burial at her home in Bagaria, Njoro sub-county, Nakuru County.

Photo credit: Francis Mureithi | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The burial was attended by former, and active athletes from Nyandarua and Laikipia counties including her formative years coach Solomon Wachira and Francis Kamau who is also Athletics Kenya (AK) Nyandarua county chairperson among others.
  • The funeral was also attended by Stephen Mayaka, a veteran athletics manager based Mchida, Tokyo, and Hitachi Long Distance Team Head Coach Satoru Kitamura.

Cynthia Njeri Mbarire, 21, who passed away on April 13, was on Saturday laid to rest at her home in Bagaria, Njoro sub-county, Nakuru County.

The burial was attended by former, and active athletes from Nyandarua and Laikipia counties including her formative years coach Solomon Wachira and Francis Kamau who is also Athletics Kenya (AK) Nyandarua county chairperson among others.

The funeral was also attended by Stephen Mayaka, a veteran athletics manager based Mchida, Tokyo, and Hitachi Long Distance Team Head Coach Satoru Kitamura.

Speaker after speaker described the late Cynthia, who was based in Japan where she died, as a brave and courageous athlete whose career was cut short by cancer even as she was destined for the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.

“Cynthia was heading to world glory and she had assured me that she will work hard and qualify to represent Kenya in the Paris Olympics next year. It’s sad her career has been cut short by illness,” said Mayaka.

Coach Kitamura said: “Hitachi Long Distance Team has lost a potential athlete whose star was shining daily and who was one of our best athletes.”