Thousands of cyclists, leaders and residents turned up in large numbers to mourn the late cyclist Thomas Waitueka ‘Suleiman’ Kangangi today in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
In-coming Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto led mourners over the late cyclist who died last week after he was involved in a crash in the USA in an accident during Overland gravel race in Vermont.
In her speech read at the funeral service in Eldoret, Mrs. Ruto said that she had no guessing where Sule’s passion laid and loved cycling where he did not hold anything back to ensure that everyone who wanted to cycle whether for leisure, or professional was armed with the right information to do so.
“As some of you may be aware, I love cycling, and am the patron of Mama Cycling, an initiative that brings cyclists and cycling enthusiasts together. When we started Mama Cycling, we would all pick our bikes and cycle, hardly watching out for each other, and with little understanding of group dynamics,” said Mrs Ruto.
“To the cycling community I know you are hurting at the loss of an icon. It is very very difficult to believe that Sule is gone, but we soldier on with courage. May God give us all comfort. Thank you and God bless you all,” she said.
Once the body of the late left The Eldoret Hospital, the hearse and cyclist held a procession within Eldoret Town, stopped at the Uasin Gishu County Governor’s office before proceeding to Munyaka for the funeral service and later to Iten for the final journey.
As the founders of Kenya Riders’ kangangi was Kenyan team captain at the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
The cyclist Jared Otiende said that Sule was a mentor to many of Kenyan riders as pioneers of the sport in the country, putting Kenya on the world map.
“Sule is our father in cycling. The majority of these cyclists you are seeing here are like his sons and daughters,” said Otiende during the funeral service.
As Amani Racing team captain, Otiende added that before his death, they had a discussion that he was going for the last ride and thereafter he was to retire and take up coaching and mentorship.
“He told me that he was going for the championships with the sole purpose of winning and retire from competing, little did we know he was going for the last event. It is a sad thing that we lost the greatest man in this profession,” said Otiende.