Sammy Kitula
18 September 2008
Nairobi — The sleepy Koyo village in Kapsabet came alive when their heroine, Pamela Jelimo, returned home to a rapturous reception on Thursday.
Thousands of people woke up early to receive their triumphant daughter who left months ago with a few pennies, but returned home an Olympic champion and a multi-millionaire.
First came the 'Maputo Express', then the 'Eldoret Express', and now, please welcome 'Koyo Express'. From the small Koyo village, came a young girl, who would later floor established heavyweights in the two-lap race.
Jelimo's homecoming in Koyo will remain etched in many people's minds. And with her arrival at her village, many chickens, goats and bulls faced the knife.
By the time the over 10, 000 guests were done with feasting, over 100 chickens, four cows and 10 sheep had met the knife, according to one of the head cooks, David Kibet. Drinks were plenty - 100 crates of soda - so was the main dish, some 1,000 kilogrammes of rice and 20 bales of wheat flour
The whole village was engulfed in a carnival mood and not even the rains were to stop the party to go on overnight.
High ranking government officials who included Sports Minister, Hellen Sambili, Indusrtialisation Minister, Henry Kosgei, MPs Elijah Lagat, Joseph Kutuny and former MP Mark Too, were in the Eldoret Airport to receive the new Kenyan celebrity.
"Jelimo has made us really proud with this victory. She has set high standards for the upcoming athletes," said former world 5000m champion, Daniel Komen.
"I won in the 1996 Grand Prix with Moses Kiptanui having won the previous year's, but what Jelimo has done is commendable in repatriating back the acquired profits," he added.
Concurring with Komen's sentiments was Africa 5000m silver medalist, Isaac Songok, who heaped loads of praise to the new two-lap champion.
"It's commendable to realise that Kenyan women have now found a place in the middle-races. I think the lady has a bright future and she should go for the world record in the next races," said Songok.
It's no secret that Jelimo's victory has elicited a lot of interest.
"She is my true girl," said Charles Kibiwott Bungei. Kibiwott, 62, has suddenly resurfaced after being reported to have walked out on the family.
The high school retired teacher claimed that he has been involved in all the home-coming preparations for his 'daughter'.
"It's not true that I walked out on the family. I have been involved in all the preparations for welcoming back Jelimo," he said.
With a teaching experience spanning 33 years, Kibiwott has baffled many with his sudden resurface, that has left more questions than answers.
The stage was set. During this year's Africa Athletics Championship in Ethiopia, there was an 800-metre bridge across the generation gap.
Pamela Jelimo, a teenage first-timer competing in her first race as a senior to cheer up her mother, and Maria Mutola, a veteran of six Olympic Games and old enough to be that mother, effectively exchanged a baton in a dramatic victory for youth over experience.
She is 18, was still a sprinter only last year and now has an Olympic gold medal, a world junior record and a place in the all-time top ten.
She stepped up to middle-distance running this year only on the advice of Janeth Jepkosgei, her Kenyan compatriot, who, given that she finished second yesterday, may be regretting her sagacity.
Jelimo, though, will surely be there in 2012 and may well be moving effortlessly towards legendary status by then.
She is doing all this for her widowed mother, Rodah Jeptoo Keter, who wanted to be an athlete, but was dissuaded by the prejudice that existed a generation ago.
"She has a very bright future and a great inspiration to the young athletes. Her milestone will live for a very long time," said 2005 World champion, Benjamin Limo.
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