Fallen Maina eulogised as he is laid to rest

Japan-based Kenyan elite athlete Johana Maina was laid to rest in a sombre funeral that brought elite athletes from across the region to the dusty village of Kibathi in Nyahururu.

Former men 10,000m world champion; Charles Kamathi, 2015 bronze winner Paul Tanui, African 400m Hurdles champion, Boniface Mucheru and Team Kenya head coach Julius Kirwa were among the luminaries present.

A sombre mood engulfed the normally quiet hamlet with many shopkeepers closing business to attend the burial of Maina who collapsed after having breakfast at a friend’s house in Nyahururu last week.

The most moving tributes were however, given by family and friends who eulogized the fallen runner as a role model and hardworking.

“He was a cool young man, who worked hard to get him to Japan where he was based,” local Athletics Kenya boss Francis Kamau mourned.

He is a brother-in-law to Rio 2016 Olympics bound men 10000m runner, Bedan Karoki who was accompanied by Kirwa.

“We have come all the way from Eldoret to stand with Karoki and I would like to urge him, to make sure he wins gold in Olympics as a dedication to late Maina,” the coach urged.

Maina was born in Eldoret but later moved to Nyahururu in 2011, where he joined the MFAE Club run by Kamau and after two years he moved to Japan and employed by Fujistu.