President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday led other Kenyans in paying their last respects to former World Half Marathon champion Major Paul Koech.
Major Koech was laid to rest in a colorful ceremony at his home Kipsomba village in Soy Constituency, Uasin Gishu County.
In a message, which was read on his behalf by Brigadier Daniel Pyaban from Kenya Defence Forces, Uhuru eulogized Koech as a hardworking athlete.
"I learnt of the officer's death with shock and we have lost a hardworking and dedicated servant who loved his job," Uhuru said in his message.
The late Koech died of a brain tumour last week at Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi. He was buried in accordance with the Kenya Defence Forces traditions, including a 21-gun salute.
Koech was a star athlete in the 90s and will be fondly remembered for a silver medal that he won in 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, coming second behind Paul Tergat.