Raila Odinga mourns Kenyan athlete Nyantika Maiyoro who died after going into a coma

Special AU envoy Raila Odinga on Monday mourned the passing of retired Kenyan athlete Nyantika Maiyoro.

The athlete passed away at the Christamarianne Hospital in Kisii County where he had been receiving treatment for tuberculosis.

"I join fellow Kenyans in mourning Mr Nyantika Mayoro who passed on today.

Nyantika Maiyoro, retired Kenyan athlete who died from tuberculosis on February 25, 2019 Pulse Live Kenya

"We have lost a pioneer athlete who put the country on the global sports map through his remarkable performance in Olympics in 1956 and in the years that followed," one of the former Prime Minister's tweets read.

Government promise unfulfilled

The departed athlete had sent an appeal for assistance with his medical bills and Interior CS Fred Matiang'i together with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya had promised to help.

"In recognition of this indelible contribution to our sports, The National Olympic Committee of Kenya will, in the meantime, offer some financial support to Nyantika towards his current medical attention," an official statement from NOC read in part.

Former Kenyan athlete Nyantika Maiyoro Pulse Live Kenya

The promise was yet to be fulfilled when the athlete went into a coma on Sunday night and suffered breathing complications thereafter.

"Mzee has left us. I'm now preparing his body for the morgue," Kennedy Nyantika, son to the deceased conveyed shortly after his death.

Mr Odinga further mourned the 88-year-old departed athlete saying: "We are mourning a selfless and unassuming patriot who did much to promote athletics in Kenya. May God grant peace and strength to his family. May his soul rest in eternal peace."