23 August 2008
Nairobi — Eldoret town exploded in celebration as Kenya bagged the two gold medals in Beijing on Saturday.
There were also scenes of joy in Kapsabet and Kapalbert in Keiyo district where Wilfred Bungei and Nancy Jebet Langat come from also sank into ululations as the two athletes won gold.
Former Steeplechase champion Moses Kiptanui who had predicted four gold for Kenya said a win the two categories was a great achievement for the country.
Kiptanui said the country should now put in more good structures to ensure that athletes do better in other track events.
"We had gone down but we are now coming up and I hope that the trend will continue like that," he said.
Uasin Gishu Athletics Kenya (AK) spokesman John Kiptum said the athletics fraternity was happy with the team that had been sent to Beijing.
Hold heads high
One of the athletics fan Alfred Kariuki who watched Bungei and Langat take gold at Grand Prix hotel in Eldoret owned by former Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui said the athletes had done the country proud.
"We are very proud of our athletes who were sent to Beijing because we can still raise our heads high after the recent post-election violence," he said.
He said the government should use sports in uniting Kenyans after the recent violence in the country. At the same time, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka sent his congratulations to the Kenya team in Beijing.
Musyoka, on his way from Istanbul, Turkey, said the two gold medals yesterday had brought great honour to the country. The Vice-President attended the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing on August 8 as the leader of the Kenyan delegation.
Kenyan 400 metres runner Elizabeth Muthoka was dropped from the Olympic team after she failed a dope test during the national championships in June, officials said on Saturday.
"Tests showed Muthoka failed a dope test during the national championships and we have opened disciplinary case against her. She has to appear before our panel in person or a representative and respond to the charges," David Okeyo, Athletics Kenya secretary general, told Reuters.
"We had to withdraw her from the Olympics because, naturally, we could not have her in the team. We can't say that she is guilty of anything yet until due process is taken to its logical conclusion," said Okeyo, also head of delegation of the Kenyan team in Beijing.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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