AfricaPress-Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has led the nation in mourning the passing of 1972 Olympics 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Ben Jipcho.
Jipcho, 77, passed away on Friday morning at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, where he has been receiving treatment.
Through the official state house Facebook page, President Uhuru eulogised Ben Jipcho as a pioneer athlete who helped cement Kenya’s profile on the international stage as a top athletics nation.
Deputy President William Ruto and Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed also led leaders in mourning Ben Jipcho.
Ruto said he was heartbroken to learn the departure of Ben Jipcho.
Jipcho started his athletics career in the 60s and will be remembered as one of the first unofficial pacemakers after sacrificing chances of winning a medal to his compatriot Kipchoge Keino in the 1,500m race during the 1968 Olympics Games.
