Austin 'Makamu' Oduor, a celebrated Kenyan footballer, Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan marathoner, and Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, are some of the icons we lost in 2024.
Relatives of world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, legendary runner Henry Rono, and family members of former Harambee Stars captain Austine ‘Makamu’ Oduor, have spoken of the void that the death of these celebrated athletes has left in their lives.
Samson Cheruiyot, father of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, has spoken of the emptiness that the death of the celebrated athlete has occasioned in his life.
“We had nothing to celebrate on Christmas Day because we lost the one person who was always there for us. He used to buy us gifts, and we would celebrate Christmas together, but this time round we just ate whatever little was available at home, and our traditional food.”
Family of the late marathoner Kelvin Kiptum (from left) wife Asenath Rotich, father Samson Cheruiyot and mother Mary Kangongo view the body of thier son before his burial service held at Chepkorio Showground on February 23, 2024.
“Together with my wife (Mary Kangogo), we prepared ugali and ate without our son. He was everything to us, and life will never be the same again,” Cheruiyot said at his home in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu County where the government constructed a new home for them. Ten months have passed since Cheruiyot and his wife moved away from their ancestral home in Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet County, to settle in the new homestead where the government also constructed a house for Kiptum’s widow Asenath Rotich.
When Nation Sport visited, Asenath was away and unavailable for comment.
Mzee Cheruiyot said Kiptum’s death also marked the end of their annual family gatherings. Before Kiptum’s death, the family would spend end-of-year festivities at the family home in Chepkorio.
Kenya's late Kelvin Kiptum during a press conference ahead of the 2023 London Marathon.
Kiptum died on February 11 in a road accident in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County, in the company of his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana. He was 24. His death was a big blow to the country as he was preparing to attempt to run the marathon in under two hours in an official race at the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
He also planned to attempt running the marathon in less than two hours at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Kiptum set the world record of two hours and 35 seconds at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Hakizimana,36, also died in the Toyota Premio car that Kiptum was driving when it crashed.
The third occupant of the car, a lady, survived with serious injuries. Kiptum is survived by his wife Asenath Cheruto and two children.
Henry Rono
Jenipher Chepkemboi Rono, wife of Henry Rono, the athlete who broke four world records inside 81 days (between April and June) in 1978, said she felt unmatched emptiness during Christmas Day.
Legendary athlete the late Henry Rono (left) and with retired Kenyan boxer Steve Muchoki.
“This has been a very difficult year for me, having lost the love of my life, the father of my children, and grandpa to my grandchildren. It is sad to go through Christmas without Henry, and we are yet to come to terms with his death and even comprehend that he left us. His spirit remains with us,” she said.
“His love for family cannot be described. But God’s grace is sufficient, knowing that up there in heaven, he is watching over us. We thank God for having given us this loving soul. We miss him so much,” Jenipher, who stays on the family farm in Molo where Rono was buried, said.
Mourners view the body of the late track legend Henry Rono at his home in Seguton village, Kuresoi South, Nakuru County, on February 27, 2024 after it arrived from Nairobi.
Rono died in February at the age of 72. His illustrious career in the 70s and 80s saw him dominate the track. He held the 3,000-meter steeplechase record for over 10 years.
He twice set the world record for the 5,000 meters, first in 1978 and then again in 1981.
Rono broke four world records in 10,000m (27:22.5), 5,000m (13:08.4), 3,000m steeplechase (8:05.4), and 3,000m (7:32.1).
Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor Origi
On October 15, the local football fraternity was thrown into mourning following the death of one of Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor Origi at the age of 65.
Oduor is father to former Harambee Stars goalkeeper, Arnold Origi, and uncle to former Liverpool striker Divork Origi. His brother Mike Okoth played for Harambee, while Gerald Origi and Antony Origi also played for Gor Mahia and later, the national football team.
Football legend Austin Origi Oduor during an interview at Makunga village in Kakamega county on April 16, 2023.
A resolute defender and solid attacker, Oduor was a stalwart in the Gor Mahia team that won the prestigious Africa Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup, now renamed CAF Federation Cup) in 1987. The same year, together with Wilberforce Mulamba and Mickey Weche, playing under German coach Reinhardt Fabisch, they captained Harambee Stars to the final of the All Africa Games (now African Games) in Nairobi, losing to Egypt 1-0.
Oduor’s widow Pamela said Christmas Day was empty without the former Kenyan international.
“He was a very caring husband. In most cases he would hire a caterer from Kisumu to serve food to his grandchildren, who would join other relatives at home to celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities as a family,” Pamela said.
This year, Pamela found it hard to stay at the family home without Oduor.
“The emptiness was there. It will never be the same without him,” she added. More than 50 retired footballers gathered at the family home in Makunga, Kakamega County, to pay their last respects to Oduor on November 24.
Football legend Austin Origi Oduor at a past match.
Pamella has urged the government to come up with a scheme to take care of players in retirement.
“During Austin’s time, life wasn’t as tough as it is now because most of the footballers were employed in government institutions. But today, many former players are languishing in poverty because the institutions collapsed. This should change. The government should come up with a scheme to help retired footballers,” she said.
Ezekiel Otuoma
Rachel Otuoma, widow of former Kenyan Premier League footballer Ezekiel Otuoma who passed away on December 21 after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), said: “My birthday party would be the first one to come five days before Christmas Day, and we celebrated as a family. Ezekiel would sponsor our Christmas Day celebrations, but today we are grieving. I don’t know when I shall ever get joy again. It’s the first Christmas Day I’m spending alone. Would mostly spend Christmas Day hand in hand in different places in Nairobi, but now he is no more, so this year has been very different.”
Former Kenyan Premier League footballer Ezekiel Otuoma.
Otuoma played for many local teams, including AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars, FC Talanta and the defunct Western Stima FC. He will be laid to rest on January 11.
Kenyans were also deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Ulinzi Starlets head coach Joseph Wambua Mwanzia, who died in September after a long battle with colon cancer.
A CAF ‘A’ licensed coach who won eight trophies with the team succumbed at Nairobi Regional Hospital in Kahawa Barracks where he had been undergoing treatment.
Rebecca Cheptegei
On September 5, the local sports fraternity also lost Ugandan marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei who had pitched her training camp in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County.
Cheptegei’s death shocked the world after her fiancée Dickson Mangata Ndiwa doused her with petrol and set her on fire. She sustained 80 percent burns and was rushed to Kitale Referral Hospital before being transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for further treatment.
Uganda’s Rebecca Cheptegei at the Rosa Associati Camp in Kapchorwa, Uganda on January 19, 2023.
Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries on September 5. Two weeks later, Ndiwa also died at the same hospital.
Rebecca’s father Joseph Cheptegei said that this year, Christmas Day was totally different and they felt empty without their daughter.
“The gap that Rebecca left is huge, and we are still trying to come to terms with her death because at such a time, we would come together and celebrate her achievements throughout the year. Now we are left alone. We shall never get her replacement and we really miss her as a family,” Mr Cheptegei said.
A view of the flag-draped coffin of the slain Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after her former boyfriend doused her in petrol and set her ablaze. The coffin is received at the Local Council for a special sitting before her burial at the Bukwo District, Uganda September 14, 2024.
Kenyans were also deeply saddened by the untimely passing on of Ulinzi Starlets head coach, Joseph Wambua Mwanzia, in September after a long battle with colon cancer.
A CAF ‘A’ Licence holder who won eight trophies with the team, Wambua died at Nairobi Regional Hospital in Kahawa Barracks, where he had been undergoing treatment.
Additional reporting by Bernard Rotich and Waigwa Kiboi
