Kiprugut was Kenya's John the Baptist of athletics- Cs Namwamba

CS Sports Ababu Namwamba has described the deceased athlete Kiprugut as John the Baptist of athletics.
Speaking during his burial ceremony Namwamba described the deceased as a legend.

“We are laying to rest Kenya’s John the Baptist of athletics. Kiprugut opened the way for many of our athletes, he cleared the path, set the standard, and motivated generations to pursue athletics as a profession,” said CS Hon Ababu-Terrah Egh during Kiprugut’s burial ceremony.

CS Ababu said that his ministry was committed to pursuing ways of recognizing and rewarding Kenyan athletes, who he termed as Kenya’s leading brand champions.

“We must as a government consolidate our efforts to recognize and better appreciate our athletes.
Our sportsmen and women have given us so much as a nation and have caused our anthem to be sung in the deepest corners of the world. Therefore, we must return this favor by treating them better and recognizing them as our national treasures, heroes, and heroines.

He added that his ministry was working on a welfare program that would ensure that retiring athletes are taken good care of, upon exiting the active competition. He said talks had commenced toward developing this framework.

“We have commenced engagement with various stakeholders in the sporting arena with a view to coming up with a proper welfare plan that will take care of our sportsmen and women upon retirement. Already, we have commissioned a study towards the development of this welfare framework.”

The CS took the opportunity to caution against doping, warning of dire consequences to the perpetrators of the vice. He challenged current and upcoming athletes to emulate Kiprugut in conquering the world all while running clean.