Runners go home empty handed from AK cross country meet
Long distance runner John Guandaru pace up ahead of Ctiy Pier City half marathoner Charles Munyeki during a training session in Nyahururu over the weekend. Photo: JOSEPH KANYI
Twenty-four athletes who had put in all their effort to earn a share of the Sh220,000 pay purse on offer during the fifth Athletics Kenya cross country meet held in Nyahururu on Saturday, went home empty handed because the money was not available at the end of the race.
The Central Province AK branch officials failed to bring the money with them because of what the senior vice chairman Erustus Kabugi termed as “technical error because the bank did not open due to Christmas holiday”.
Kabugi who is also the Kerogoya-Kutus mayor said the bank where the branch has an account had assured them they could withdraw the money in Nyahururu yesterday “instead of withdrawing it on December 22 in Karatina”.
The reality of the matter became clear when the athletes who had finished in the top six in their categories were called to receive their awards.
Immediately the athletes were taken aside by the provincial team to be told that the money was not available.
A bid by the provincial officials to pay the last four from their pocket was vetoed by a team from the AK headquaters.
The team comprised of Dan Muchoki John Wachira, and national cross country coaches Julius Kirwa
