Nairobi — The triumphant national team to the Beijing Olympic Games received a fitting reception at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday.

Government dignitaries led by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and the Minister for Sport, Hellen Sambili, together with family, friends and the general public were on hand to receive the athletes when they jetted into the country Wednesday night.

The 32-member team brought the airport to a near-standstill as the crowd jostled to catch a glimpse of the heroes and heroines who did the country proud in Beijing.

Kenya bagged a total of 14 medals in the Olympics -- five gold, five silver and four bronze medals.

Traditional dancers were on hand to meet the athletes while a red carpet was rolled up and for the moment as the Vice President and other other dignitaries joined in the traditional dance with athletes.

Traditional fermented mursik milk was available in plenty for athletes, who were no doubt thirsty after arriving from the hot and dry Beijing.

Overall team captain Wilfred Bungei carried the national flag in what will be his last appearance in the national colours. Bungei, 28, the new Olympic 800m champion, will hung up his spikes having clinched the biggest prize in his career.

However, attention was on new marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru, who won Kenya's first ever men's marathon gold medal at the Olympics.

Wanjiru's coach, Katsuchi Fuchiwaki and Stephen Mayaka, a Kenya-born Japanese coach, will arrive on Friday for Wanjiru's home coming party in Nyahururu this weekend.

The two will lead a delegation from Japan that will come to Kenya to witness the celebration.

Wanjiru has hired three helicopters to ferry his friends and relatives from Nairobi to the party in what is expected to be the country's biggest fete in honour of an athlete's success.

The team was treated to dinner at the adjacent Simba Restaurant and are expected to dine on Thursday at Safari Park Hotel in a gala organised by Samsung Electronics.

They will then fly to Mombasa Friday morning to meet President Mwai Kibaki, where they will receive their prizes.

Sports assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando, permanent secretary Kinuthia Murugu and chief de mission David Okeyo accompanied the team from Beijing.

Some athletes, however, complained that they had to leave some personal items in Beijing as the airline they used limited their luggage to 40kg each.

"I saw some athletes throw away bags and other personal items to reduce luggage weight. Does Kenya have an airline? Where were they? Every team in Beijing was ferried by their national airline, what about us?" an athlete asked.

Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat asked the government to convince the national airline to charge special rates for Kenyan athletes.