Kiptum is to be buried on Feb.24 as President Ruto orders a house to be built for his family

Kenya's President William Ruto has sent engineers to the home of the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, with instructions to build a three-bedroom house.

Kiptum had planned to build a home for his family before he was killed in a road accident last Sunday.

The president's office has denied local media reports that the house has to be ready by Kiptum's funeral next week.

Excavations have already started, the family spokesman said.

The house is being built on a four-acre farm which Kiptum had bought about 16km (10 miles) from the family home in the Rift Valley, where he was planning to construct his home later this year.

"There are three engineers here who are being supervised by senior government officials," family spokesperson Philip Kiplagat told the BBC.

It is hoped that the house will be ready by the end of the 40-day mourning period.

Police said Kiptum, a 24-year-old father of two, was killed after the car he was driving veered into a ditch.

His Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana also died in the accident while a woman passenger was injured.

Kiptum's father has called for an investigation, saying that four unidentified men had visited his son days before his accident.

The suspects are currently in police custody for questioning after being arrested, according to local media.

Kiptum's death, just four months after he broke the marathon world record, shocked Kenya and the world of athletics.

He had been planning to attempt to become the first person to run a marathon in under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon in April.

Meanwhile, the funeral of Kiptum will be held on 24 February, an athletics official said on Wednesday, with the government promising a "heroic farewell".

Kiptum will be buried at the family home in Chepsamo, near Eldoret, the heartland of Kenyan distance running in the west of the country, Athletics Kenya executive committee member Barnabas Korir told AFP. His Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana also died in the crash, while a female passenger was injured.

"We have agreed on February 24 after consultations with the family and the government, which has taken over all the funeral arrangements and protocol," Korir commented a day after visiting the bereaved family.

He added that the funeral service would be funded by the government. "In honour of Kenya's world marathon record holder, a true national hero, the Government will assist Kiptum's family in giving him a befitting heroic farewell.

Kiptum was a sporting powerhouse whose achievements inspired millions around the world. He remains the only person in history to run a marathon in under two hours and one minute. Kiptum broke the world record in Chicago last October, shaving 34 seconds off the previous fastest time set by his Kenyan rival, Eliud Kipchoge.

The young athlete has competed in just three marathons and owns three of the seven fastest times in the history of the event. He was the favourite to win gold at the Paris Olympics, where he was expected to go head-to-head with Kipchoge for the first time.

Athletics Kenya also announced the cancellation of the trials for the African Games, which were due to take place next Friday and Saturday "in honour of the late Kelvin Kiptum".

It said the selection process for the team to represent Kenya at next month's Games in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, would take place at a date to be announced. Tributes have poured in for Kiptum, with Coe describing him as "an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy".