Eliud Kipchoge is set to receive an honorary degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and will add a second title of “doctor.”

Kipchoge will get an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters and will deliver acceptance remarks upon conferment as well as address the school’s class of 2023 and the crowds that will attend its 41st graduation ceremony today, on December 1, 2023, at Juja Main Campus.

Jomo Kenyatta University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, will present this honoris causa saying, “I admit you to the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters and by my authority, and that of the entire University, give the power to read and to do all that appertains to this degree” after the greatest marathoner of all time impressively satisfied all the preconditions of the prestigious accolade.

Honoris causa is an academic award presented without years of focused study and examinations, and JKUAT is giving it to Kipchoge for his great private charitable commitment through his Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, whose main purpose is to help more children get access to quality education and environmental protection.

“I want those children to grow up into healthy adults in a green and breathing world where forests keep our people safe. I hope to contribute to and grow the movement in education and environmental protection through my Foundation, to reach the people in the world with my voice. To raise awareness and to raise finances to build libraries, schools, and forests. I was lucky in my life to have access to books and knowledge from a young age. It taught me to value life.” Kipchoge says.

The institution also recognizes his outstanding achievements in athletics, especially after setting an impossible standard when he transcended human capabilities to be the fastest marathon runner alive to achieve a 1:59:40 in a sub-two-hour marathon held in the city of Vienna, Austria, in 2019 – the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

This is the second honorary doctorate for the 39-year-old 2x Olympic champion after he was conferred with a Doctor of Science by Laikipia University during its 7th graduation ceremony in 2019.

Advertisement