The County government of Uasin Gishu has pledged to help support burial arrangements for 2015 400 meters hurdles World Champion, Nicholas Bett.
Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago on Friday said his administration will work with the Athletics Kenya (AK) and the National Police Service to see where they can chip in during the preparations for the funeral.
"The county government will chip in during the preparations so that the athlete may be given the best send-off since he was a star in the athletics fraternity," Mandago told the press in Eldoret.
He also send a message of condolence to the family and friends of the athlete who died on Wednesday following a tragic rod accident at Sochoi area along Eldoret-Kapsabet road.
"I want to send my condolences to the family after learning about the death of their son Bett. The sudden death of the athlete is a big shock to the entire athletics family and I know he has left a big gap. The country has lost a young athlete whose star had started shining," said the county boss as quoted by the Nation.
Bett whose rural home is in Simat, Uasin Gishu county made history as a first Kenyan athlete to win a gold medal in short races. Kenya is known for excelling in middle and long distance races.
Funeral arrangements for the fallen hero have already begun with the first meeting being held on Friday at the Eldoret Sports Club where a legion of athletes including two-time Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui, former world track champions Eunice Sum, Alfred Kirwa Yego, Milcah Chemos and Asbel Kiprop, among others, attended.