Our heroes, heroines deserve better treatment

By Omulo Okoth

President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga captured the mood of the Nation by paying glowing tribute to sportsmen and women.

It did not matter that the President referred to sterling performance in Olympics when he actually meant the recent Commonwealth Games in India. The point he drove home was that our sportsmen and women have done this country proud. They did equally well in Beijing Olympics two years ago, but their performance in New Delhi this month surpassed any previous performances at the Games.

Previous regimes only glossed over such huge successes. To make matters worse, they always expected the athletes to do well, so it made big news when they actually did it.

President Kibaki has struck the right chord. By declaring Mashujaa Day and parading sportsmen and women, past and present, at the forefront, at Nyayo National Stadium, as enthusiastic and nostalgic public cheered, was a heart-rending acknowledgement of their heroic performances. But let our leaders ask themselves some hard questions. I know many former high-flying athletes are suffering out there?

Acknowledging their heroic performances is fine. Celebrating them is good enough, but let us go a notch higher and also make them proud that they served this great nation with dedication.

Two years ago, the Prime Minister ordered that Nyandika Maiyoro’s house be reverted to him by the Kisii Municipal Council. That is all Mzee Maiyoro is asking for. The colonial Government gave him that house for his exploits abroad, only for some characters to convert it to a Council house. How callous can a people be to their heroes?

Amos Biwott, who started the steeplechase reign in Mexico Olympics of 1968 lives in penury near Eldoret. I know some boxers who have since died in excruciating poverty, yet they flew Kenya’s flag high. Footballers are even worse. Who would imagine Joe Kadenge of Kadenge na Mpira fame eking out a living driving a taxi, after recovering from a mild stroke?

Granted, some end up in such situations due to own overindulgence and lack of discipline, but some effort ought to be made to make our heroes and heroines better citizens and role models to the younger generation.

And who qualifies to be a hero or heroine? Could we differentiate between winners, champions and heroes/heroines? For the latter should be a real role model in all aspects of life. Winning a few million bucks and investing in self-serving enterprises or winning awards and trophies here and there should not make one a hero or heroine.

Hone their talent

What impact have they made to the society? Are the coaches who groom such talent at formative days in life qualify? Then there are those who groom them, who hone their talent, who advise them to concentrate on particular areas, etc. Lastly, hats off to our great sportsmen and women who have made us proud.

From the days of Maiyoro, Kanuti Sum, Arere Anentia to the second generation of Kiprugut arap Chumo, Kipchoge Keino, Ben Jipcho, Naftali Temu, Amos Biwott, Mike Boit, Tecla Chemabwai, Lidya Stevens, followed by Henry Rono, Samson Kimombwa, Robert Ouko, Charles Asati, Billy Konchellah, Joseph Chesire, coming down to the era Paul Ereng’, Peter Rono, John Ngugi, Moses Tanui, Moses Kiptanui, Douglas Wakiihuri to the next world beaters like Paul Tergat, William Sigei, Richard Chelimo etc, our athletes have been our greatest source of pride.

Our women have been awesome, too. Sebina Chebichi, popularly known as ‘Petty coat girl’ and her predecessors Chembwai, Stevens and later Pauline Konga, who was Kenya’s first women to win an Olympics medal, a silver in Atlanta 1996, Susan Sirma, who won 3,000m bronze in 1991 World Championships, marathon stars Tegla Loroupe and Catherine Ndereba and now two Olympic champions Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Jebet Lagat and world champion and double Commonwealth Games winner Janeth Jepkosgei will be studied in history books by generations to come.

Away from athletes, our footballers have not achieved much, but they remain a strong reference point in Kenya’s sports history.

Joe Kadenge, Jonathan Niva, Peter Ouma Chege, James Siang’a, Maurice Ochieng’, Mohammed Magogo, Binzi Mwakolo, Ali Breik, Peter Oronge, Nicodemus Arudhi, Livingstone Tiema, Mahmoud Abbas, among others, are forever etched in football lovers’ memory.

Perminder Singh Saini, Chris Otambo, Julius Akumu, Peter Akatsa, Nahashon Randiek, Lucas Alubaha and Michael Omondi are among the few who put Kneya on the world hockey map. Any rally without the names like Joginder Singh, Shekkar Mehta, Peter Shiyuka, Patrick Njiru, David Doig, Peter Hughes, the Chodas, was not a rally worth talking about.

Boxing stars did not emerge with the late Robert Wangila who won Olympics gold in Seoul 1988. Folks we have thousands of heroes and heroines in basketball, rugby, cricket, shooting and others who make Kenyans faces glow with pride.

Let us honour them appropriately.