Thousands mourn Kenyan marathon star Kelvin Kiptum as dem lay am to rest

Pipo dey try hold back dia tears as Kelvin Kiptum widow, Asenath Rotich lead mourners for di funeral of di young Kenyan marathon world record holder.

She bin break down wen dem reveal say di couple bin dey plan one big wedding celebration for April.

Kiptum na just 24 wen e bin die for car accident nearly two weeks ago.

E bin stun di world for im short marathon career and figures from sport and politics come to pay tribute to man wey im life bin get so much promise.

Kenya President William Ruto bin dey dia as well as Sebastian Coe, wey head athletics world govning bodi.

Di funeral ceremony bin hold for di showground for di town of Chepkorio, wia Kiptum bin train for western Kenya.

Im widow tok say she and Kiptum, wey do traditional marriage for 2017, bin plan to hold "colourful wedding ceremony" for April.

She bin remind everyone say di modest, softly spoken star don also leave two pikin dem and parents bereft.

"I mourn my love," she tok, "I don cry until no more. I go miss you and you be di love of my life forever. Until we meet again."

Kenya na home to some of di world best runners and many bin come to pay dia respects.

Amos Kipruto, di 2022 London Marathon champion, be one pall bearer for di service.

"Di hands no dey strong enough," e bin tell BBC.

"My heart heavy e dey painful, and I still feel say na movie... We all be rivals for races but for friendship we dey togeda."

Multiple world record holder Faith Kipyegon describe Kiptum as "unique" and wonder wetin e for be, say dis na di year wey di young long-distance runner be wan break di two-hour barrier for di marathon.

"Since e bin arrive... e be don re-write history," ogbonge athlete Paul Tergat bin tell BBC. "E get one legacy wey we neva see for dis world. We dey here... to celebrate wetin e don achieve for di very short time."

Kiptum bin only run im first marathon for December 2022 record di fastest debut time ova di distance. E den break di London course record last year and smash di world record, wey Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge, bin hold for October 2023.

Overall, e bin run three of di fastest seven marathons of all time for less dan one year.

To reflect on dis record Lord Coe say Kiptum don reach "di highest peaks of achievement".

But e also be one local hero wey dem tok say don do a lot for pipo for im home area.

"I feel pain and shock," local resident Susan Jerotich tok.

"E for be one great support to di community and family. E be our light. E don motivate many.

"We dey always tok to our pikin dem: 'Be like Kiptum."