Lovingly known as “Mama Kevin”
12 March 1960 — 9 November 2026 · aged 66
Uasin Gishu farmer and church mother who ran every race beside her son, in prayer
Eldoret, Kenya Born in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County Resting at Family farm, KapseretIt is with great sorrow and acceptance of God's will that we announce the passing of HELLEN CHEPKOECH ROTICH, farmer and elder of the AIC Kapseret Mothers' Union, on 9th November 2026 at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. Wife of Joel Kiprotich Rotich; mother to Faith and Brian and the late Kevin; mother-in-law to Dennis and Mercy; grandmother to seven. Family and friends meet daily at Kapseret at 5.00 pm. Cortege leaves Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary on Saturday 28th November for a funeral service at AIC Kapseret Church, followed by burial at the family farm. M-Pesa Paybill 512974, Account MAMAKEVIN. Rest in peace, Mama.
Hellen Chepkoech Rotich never ran a competitive race in her life, yet she finished more of them than anyone. She stood at the finish line of every race her son Kevin ever ran, from the village cross-country to Eldoret's Kipchoge Keino Stadium, with a flask of sweet tea in one hand and her rosary in the other. After he passed away in January 2024, she still stood at the finish line each Saturday, and the young runners who trained on the Kapseret road adopted her as their mother.
She was born in Moiben in 1960, the sixth of ten children of a maize and dairy farmer. She finished primary school, married Joel Kiprotich Rotich in 1982, and moved to a two-acre plot at Kapseret that grew into a thirty-acre farm of maize, wheat and eleven Friesian cows. She woke at four to milk, delivered litres of milk to the Eldoret cooling plant, and was home before the children left for school.
Hellen raised four children and buried one with a dignity that humbled everyone who watched. She served as an elder in the Mothers' Union at AIC Kapseret for twenty years and organised the church's annual food drive for families affected by the cold season. Her mursik was famous at every wedding in the village, and no athlete ever left her kitchen hungry.
She loved gospel radio, quiet mornings with the cows, and teaching the young runners to ignore the clock and listen to their legs. She died at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on 9 November 2026 after a short illness.
She leaves her husband Joel, her children Faith and Brian, seven grandchildren, and a roadside full of runners who will keep her tea warm.
“Run with your legs, finish with your heart.”
Saturday, 28 November 2026 at 07:00 UTC
Add to calendarComing together to honour Hellen and support the family.
Funeral arrangements and burial beside her son Kevin at the family farm.
Daily at the family home, Kapseret, 5.00 pm
Contact: Brian Kipkoech Rotich
$156.75 raised of $3,100.78
Preparing the funeral programme, cooking and the food drive in her memory.
Church hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays 3.00 pm
Contact: Mercy Jepkosgei Koech
$175.75 raised of $930.23
Young athletes arranging a memorial run and a guard of honour.
Kapseret road, Saturdays at dawn
Contact: Coach Peter Kiplagat
$0 raised of $1,162.79
Sign in to start a committee or join one to support the family.
Memorial fund
Support the family with funeral costs and keep her tea-and-porridge breakfasts for Kapseret's young runners going.
$427.50 raised of $3,500
12%11 recent contributions
Coach Peter Kiplagat gave $95 · 5h ago
“Mungu awape nguvu.”
Mary Wafula gave $14.25 · 22h ago
“Pole sana kwa familia.”
Peter Odhiambo gave $28.50 · 1d ago
“Mungu awape nguvu.”
Elijah Kirui gave $9.50 · 1d ago
“Pole sana kwa familia.”
Janet Barasa gave $9.50 · 1d ago
Primary education
Moiben Primary School1967 – 1974 · Moiben
Completed Standard Seven and was top of her class in arithmetic.
Married Joel Kiprotich Rotich
1982 · Eldoret
A marriage of forty-four years.
Dairy and maize farmer
Rotich Family Farm1984 – 2026 · Kapseret
Grew a two-acre plot into a thirty-acre farm with eleven dairy cows.
Elder, Mothers' Union
AIC Kapseret Church2004 – 2026 · Kapseret
Led the church's annual food drive and young mothers' fellowship.
Mother to athlete Kevin Kiprono Rotich
1989 – 2024 · Eldoret
Stood at every finish line, from village to stadium.
Tap an organisation to find others who studied or worked there.
Also remembered on Evermore
Hellen is survived by
5 people have shared a memory of Hellen.
Knew Hellen? Share a memory with the family and everyone who loved them.
Sign in to write a tributeDaughter
Mama, you are with Kevin now, so run beside him once more. Save me a place at the finish line. We will keep your flask warm and the Saturday tea going.
Cousin in Colorado
Aunt Hellen sent me a packet of tea leaves every Christmas, wherever I lived. I am drinking some now and thinking of the Kapseret kitchen. Please hug Uncle Joel for me.
Mothers' Union, AIC Kapseret
She buried a son and then asked what the church needed. That is the kind of strength you cannot teach. We will honour her with the best food drive we have ever run.
Young runner, Kapseret
When I won my first county race, I looked for Mama Kevin at the finish line and she was there with her flask. She whispered, run for yourself. I still hear her.
Running coach, Kapseret
Mama Kevin brought sweet tea to my athletes every Saturday for nine years. After Kevin died she did not stop. She said runners need warm hands more than speed. Eldoret has lost a mother.
