Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has hit out at Sports CS Ababu Namwamba for not acting on an incident in Argentina where a Kenyan athlete was attacked by a dog during the Buenos Aires Marathon held on Sunday, 24 September, 2023.
In a statement shared on his X handle, Senator Cherargei accused CS Ababu of not taking proactive steps to advocate for the well-being of athletes.
"Marathoner Robert Kimutai Ngeno was attacked by a dog in Argentina during a marathon event last Sunday where he secured third position.
"UNFORTUNATELY the incompetent CS Ababu of sports and lethargic Athletics Kenya has NOT found it wise to protest and call for investigations by Argentina authorities!" he wrote.
Adding: "The athlete was robbed of his dignity and subjected to untold ridicule. Blessed morning."
Ng'eno had an impressive performance, reaching the halfway mark in 1:03.21 and subsequently taking the lead from the 25-kilometre mark to the 38-kilometre point.
However, his focus was disrupted when an unexpected stray dog suddenly appeared and chased him during the race.
Fortunately, a small group of spectators came to Ngeno's rescue by pursuing the dog, which caused him to lose his position in the leading duo consisting of Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat and the 2016 Rio Olympics 10,000 meters silver medalist, Paul Kipngetich Tanui.
Just last month, Cherargei backed the move to have Ababu summoned before the National Assembly on grounds of mishandling the Sports docket.
The Senator claimed that ministry officials had flown first class to Budapest for the World Championships with their girlfriends at the expense of Kenyan athletes.
Taking to his X account, Cherargei said the CS had to be summoned to avert mismanagement of sports.
"I echo [the] sentiments of Hon. Ichungwa Majority Leader National Assembly that CS Ababu continues to mismanage into oblivion our beloved sports. How can ministry officials fly first class with their girlfriends to Olympics Budapest, Hungary at the expense of our athletes?" he wrote.
"Our female athletes are being exploited sexually & economically! Parliament must summon CS sports to avert disastrous mismanagement of our sports!"
