Kirotshe Foundation

My heart hurts so bad. My heart is broken.
I have lost a friend. I have lost a brother. I have lost a son.

When I started Kirotshe Foundation (Project Kirotshe then), my goal was to help the youth of Kirotshe and its surround through education and sports. I went to Kirotshe in 2012 to start training and gather a group of youth to train alongside me for the 2016 Olympics. I initially chose 10 boys and 6 girls to start the program. Out of the initial 16 starting core group, there was only 1 left. Kaboy (kanyabugoyi) Baraka Andre (Andrew).

Around 2:00AM on Wednesday morning, my wife woke me up with words that I am still finding very difficult to accept. She said that Baraka has died. I woke up so fast and ask her, “Which Baraka?”. She said Baraka the runners. Everything just stopped for me for a while. I had to hide the tears from my wife. The tears just kept coming. My heart was in so much pain.

I became the father of runners in Kirotshe. All the runners were known as “batoto ya Dee” (“The children of Dee”). I took pride in it because running is not for everyone. And Baraka was not everyone. Baraka was very different.

You see, Baraka was not the most talented runner I have encountered throughout our program. But I can say he was the most hard-working. Relentless. Committed. Goal oriented. Focused. Highly discipline. Respectful. Trustworthy. Highly intelligent. Compassionate. Selfless. Kind. Full of love. Full of life.

Baraka Self-taught himself English. Baraka received his Bachelor degree as a member of the Kirotshe Foundation. Baraka was never beaten in a marathon by a Congolese runner. Baraka became the people’s champion as he won races from Kirotshe, to Goma, to Lumbumbashi, and to Kinshasa.

Before the current war in Congo, Baraka decided to marry his dear wife Bonne Fride. God blessed them with their beautiful girl Shania. Baraka decided to go live in Kenya to seek better opportunities for his young family, and to train like the Kenyans.

Baraka has left us. Baraka has left his dear wife. Baraka has left his dear daughter.

The buried will most likely be on Saturday 9 October 2025 in Kakuma, Kenya.

Please make a donation to help support the farewell of our champion and also support his wife and daughter he left behind.

Zelle: Makorobondo Salukomb (2162552407)
Venmo: Makorobondo Salukombo ()
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=SHTBiFGlk-Vnn8cxvSERFIylIbL0HoAyWeL45QiA0xqpCDFAEC6MWY5q7m6iVegNJhMYTjvlimCragLU
Cashapp: https://cash.app/$Esalukombo

Rest in Heaven my friend, my brother, my son.
Thank you for sharing your life with me. I will miss you terribly.

Dee Salukombo
Kirotshe Foundation
www.kirotshefoundation.org
[email protected]
+12162552407