Peter Ng'etich
4 October 2008
Nairobi — Sports minister Hellen Sambili on Saturday apologised on behalf of the government to former athletes who had done the country proud but had not been honoured.
Saying the sportsmen and women had raised the country's flag high for a long time, Sambili said her ministry would invite the former athletes soon and honour them.
Speaking at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret where some former athletes came together to honour the Beijing Olympics medallists, the minister said Kenya was known all over the world through athletics and it had been unfair not to pay any tribute to them.
"Since they made our country proud, my ministry will seat down and invite them very soon to see how they can be honoured," she said.
Saying the State took sports seriously, Sambili said sports had been incorporated in the Vision 2030 since the country had had a lot of talent.
"Since sports has made our country known all over the globe, we are going start a sports academy in Kasarani to tap the diverse talents in the country," Sambili said.
During the fete, thousands of people thronged the stadium, including agriculture minister, William Ruto, assistant ministers Charles Keter, Jackson Kiptanui, Athletics Kenya chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, and North Rift AK chairman, Ibrahim Hussein.
Convoy of vehicles
Others were five Rift Valley MPs including former MP Nicholas Biwott, former nominated MPs Mark Too, Ezekiel Barngetuny, former athletes Kipchoge Keino, Moses Kiptanui, Moses Tanui, Douglas Wakihuri among others.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey sent apologies.
The party, which started at Eldoret International Airport at 9 am, saw gold medallist Wilfred Bungei, Pamela Jelimo, Nancy Chebet Langat, Henry Kirwa and Alfred Tarbei being welcomed at the airport, about 17 kilometres from Eldoret, before they were driven to the town in a convoy of vehicles.
At the town, they signed visitors books in some banks which had sponsored the function before they proceeded to Wareng County Council, Eldoret Municipal Council and the District Commissioner's Office before they headed to the stadium aboard six four wheel pick ups to a rousing welcome.
Aboard the vehicles also were silver medallist Janet Jepkosgei, Asbel Kiprop, Francis Thuo together with Sambili, Ruto, MPs Margaret Kamar (Eldoret East) and Peris Simam (Eldoret South).
Gold medallist Brimin Kipruto and Samuel Wanjiru did not attend the function.
They were said to be engaged outside the country for some races.
During the fete, organisations, including leading banks, tried to outdo each other using their banners in a function which heavy rains interrupted it at 2.30 pm. Some coughed out Sh500,000 which was used to buy 20 heifers for the athletes who got either a gold, a silver or a bronze.
Athletes who participated in Olympics since 1964 were recognised by Kenya Athletics Welfare Association (KAWA) whose head is Kiptanui a former Steeple Chase champion.
Sambili, who avoided the controversial AK elections for North Rift which were held on Friday, further said that the government will partner with private organisations to promote sports in the country.
"Since the next Olympics will be held in 2012, corporations should take upon one sport so that the team can be ripe for the next games," she said.
Sambili said athletics can be used in the country especially North Rift to promote sports tourism. Ruto said athletes had done the country proud and they had set a pace for greater heights in development in the country.
"Africa is known for poverty war and disease but our athletes have shown the world that something good can come out of the continent," he said.
Kiptanui, who was the organising chairman of the fete, termed Friday's AK North Rift branch election "a sham" and wondered why elective posts in the organisation had been tribalised.
"When I was running for the country, I was recognised as a Kenyan but when I sought an elective post recently, I was termed a Marakwet. Why did this have to happen?" he posed.
He called on athletes to invest their hard earned money wisely.
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