Monica Chirchir's burial date set

Monica Chirchir

Monica Chirchir wins the Athletics Kenya’s North Rift Regional Cross County Championships 10km senior women’s race held at Ekalees Centre in Lodwar, Turkana County on January 18, 2020. Monica succumbed to Colon cancer on December 11, 2021.

Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Chirchir, 23, had been battling the disease since last year and had stopped training in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet where she was under St Patrick's camp led by Bro Colm O'Connell
  • She represented Kenya at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, finishing sixth in the 10,000m in a time of 32 minutes, 43.63 seconds
  • Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei condoled with the family terming the death as unfortunate because she died at a young age when her career was just taking off

The 2019 African Games 10,000m finalist, Monica Chirchir who succumbed to colon cancer in Kimalel, Baringo County last Saturday will be buried next Thursday at her parents’ home.

Chirchir, 23, had been battling the disease since last year and had stopped training in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet where she was under St Patrick's camp led by Bro Colm O'Connell.

She represented Kenya at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, finishing sixth in the 10,000m in a time of 32 minutes, 43.63 seconds. 

Her sister, Charity Chirchir, told Nation Sport that Monica died at the Kimalel Hospital in Baringo County after a long battle with cancer.

Chirchir was born on December 6, 1998 and was the third born in a family of seven children where she was the sole breadwinner. They have been struggling to make ends meet after she fell sick.

Her talent was identified at Kipkaech Secondary School and she was recruited to join St Patrick’s Junior Camp in Iten.

Upon completing high school education in 2017, she continued training in Iten and competed in various competitions locally.

The camp's assistant coach, Ian Kiprono, said that when Monica fell sick last year, she was given permission to go back home for medical attention because it affected her training programme.

He said that they continued supporting her and making follow ups and at one time the family had to sell their properties to cater for her medication.

“Monica was the sole breadwinner to her family and she was training hard to make sure their family gets a better life but that was not to be because she was diagnosed with cancer. I was at their home and the family is trying to come to terms with what has happened,” said Kiprono.

Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei condoled with the family terming the death as unfortunate because she died at a young age when her career was just taking off.

“We want to condole with the family of our upcoming athlete who died and had shown good progress by participating in various competitions. Competing in Africa Games is just a start for any athlete and it was a matter of time before she could join the global stage,” said Tuwei.