Requiem mass held for Kiplagat
Deputy President William Ruto (left) consoles Joan Kiplagat, the widow of the late Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat on August 31, 2016 after a church service at St Francis ACK, Karen, Nairobi. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- During the service that lasted for almost three hours starting at 10am, Kiplagat’s life history was read out, including how he touched lives when he was a former Kenya Prisons Commandant and a former Post Bank managing director.
- Speakers termed Kiplagat a non-nonsense person who stood for what he thought was right — a management style that transformed Kenya into a powerhouse in the world of athletics.
The requiem mass for former Athletics Kenya president Isaiah “Fundi” Kiplagat was held on Thursday at St Francis Anglican Church of Kenya in Karen.
Mourners, among the Deputy President William Ruto, eulogised him as a visionary and selfless leader, whose legacy will last for many years.
Kiplagat, 71, who succumbed to cancer at his Nairobi home on August 24 is survived by a widow Joan, four children; Judy, Betty, Carol and Moses. He will be laid to rest on Friday at his home in Kapseret, Eldoret.
“You treated me as gentle as a child from the day we met. To you I never grew up, I was just like one of your children. Now I am lost,” said Joan in tribute to her husband.
During the service that lasted for almost three hours starting at 10am, Kiplagat’s life history was read out, including how he touched lives when he was a former Kenya Prisons Commandant and a former Post Bank managing director.
Reverend Joyce Kariuki, who presided over the service, said Kiplagat was a God fearing person who not only loved his family but all those he encountered.
Moses read his father’s eulogy.
Speakers termed Kiplagat a non-nonsense person who stood for what he thought was right — a management style that transformed Kenya into a powerhouse in the world of athletics.
Ruto described Kiplagat as a nationalist whose exemplary work and contribution took Kenyan athletics to the world’s peak.
“When Kiplagat decided to do something he did it with his whole heart and to perfection. He stood firm in decisions and was rarely swayed,” Ruto said.
“When writing the history of sports in the country that book will not be complete without a full chapter on this great man Kiplagat,” he said.
Ruto noted that to honour people like Kiplagat, the Government had set aside Sh1 billion annually to reward top performing Kenyans especially in world of sports.
The DP also decried the high deaths from cancer.
Also in attendance were Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, Mogotia MP Helen Sambili, senators Amos Wako and Zipporah Kittony (nominated), AK president Jackson Tuwei, National Olympic Committee of Kenya chairman Kipchoge Keino and former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya.
Sambili and Kittony spoke of behalf of Members of Parliament and other dignitaries while Nyamweya represented sports federations.
