Kenya's most accomplished short distance races athlete Robert Ouko has died aged 70, his fellow athletes have confirmed.
Mr Ouko, who was in the famous 4*400 relay team in Munich Olympic games that won a gold medal in 1972, died at his Ngong home. His body has been taken to Umash Funeral Home.
"My brother and our legend Robert Ouko. I have struggled for you until the last minute until God decided to take you away," Rose Tata Muya, a track legend, said in a statement Monday morning.
Ms Tata said she was shocked by the news of his death since when the spoke on Saturday, she had wanted him to meet the Sports Principal Secretary "to release the cash but everything was beyond my control."
"I know you passed on with a lot of pain, struggling for assistance. We loved you but God loved you more. RIP our beloved Shuja," Tata said in the emotional statement.
Oukos death leaves two surviving members of that famous quartet - Charles Asati and Hezekiah Nyamao.The other team member, Julius Sang, died on April 9, 2004.
In a statement, Asati, also hailing from Kisii like Ouko and Nyamao, accused the government of neglecting them despite years of asking for help.
"Its sad that we have been neglected and Ouko died suffering. But we thank God each morning that we wake up because it is He who keeps us going, said Asati, 73, from his Kisii home," he said.
His death comes few months after the death of compatriot Nyantika Mayioro, who equally accused the government of neglecting him even at his death bed.
Besides Ouko, Asati and Nyamao, the only other athlete from Gusii land to ever win a gold in Olympic games was Naftali Temu, who won 10,000 meters race in 1968, Mexico City.