'Lightning' strikes Kibaki and Raila

Nothing can best describe the historic moment when the fastest man on the planet finally met the fastest animal on earth.

Jamaica’s multiple world record holder, Usain Bolt, wound up his four-day tour of Kenya with a most memorable day when he met with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga before adopting a cub cheetah at the world’s famous Animal Orphanage in Nairobi.

Bolt, on a tour courtesy of the Zeitz Foundation, arrived in Nairobi in the early hours of Monday from the Segera Ranch in Laikipia and headed straight to the president’s offices at Harambee House for a meeting with Kibaki.

During the meeting, President Kibaki and the Jamaican champion discussed activities of the Zeitz Foundation which advocates for the sustainable use of the environment.

Conservation

Bolt, who is a global ambassador for sports of the Zeitz Foundation, has been in the country for the official launch of the foundation’s programmes in Kenya and establishment of a conservation programme.

President Kibaki congratulated the athlete and encouraged him to make more visits to the country, saying he was an inspiration to the country’s youth.

The Jamaican then headed for the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters where he met with the Prime Minister who accompanied him to the launch of the KWS adoption programme called Namayiana, a maasai word for “blessed one.”

Less tense moments

It was sheer delight as Bolt, who holds the 100 metres world record at 9.58 seconds and the 200 metres mark at 19.19 seconds on the track, encountered the cheetah that usually bolts at 112 kilometres per hour in the wild.

Perhaps the guided tour that Bolt took around the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters somehow calmed down his nerves before the historic meeting with the cheetahs.

There were more appealing and less tense moments when the Jamaican superstar adopted a three-month-old cheetah that was subsequently named “Lightning Bolt” after the Jamaican star’s track nickname.

“I am not afraid of animals any more,” said Bolt as he cuddled "Lighning Bolt" who appreciated the gesture as it suckled mildly the bottled milk offer by the 23-year-old superstar.

To perhaps ward off the encounter with the cheetahs and perhaps the challenge they could pose to his track speed records, Bolt reckoned that his most memorable moment was his encounter with a bull elephant at the Segera Ranch in Laikipia on Sunday.

The Segera Ranch is owned by Zeitz who is also the chief executive of sportswear firm, Puma, Bolt’s competition gear sponsors.

“It was kind of upset and scared as it waved its big ears perhaps a sign that he was not ready to meet Bolt,” said Bolt, who also holds the 4x100m relay record.

Another interesting moment for Bolt was when their vehicle got stuck in black cotton soil of Segera.

“I guess the driver was not that good,” said Bolt eliciting a lengthy laughter from the crowd.

“I should acknowledge that I enjoyed my stay in Kenya. When I watch Kenya on television, it is shown as a country with lot of sunshine but it’s been chilly and rainy since I got here,” said Bolt.

“I hope to come back and follow up on how little Lightening Bolt is doing.”

Bolt was accompanied by former 110m hurdles world record holder, Colin Jackson from Britain, who, along with the Prime Minister, also adopted animals at the Orphanage. Jackson adopted an eland he named ‘Colin’ while Odinga a Lion’s cub he named ‘Agwambo.’

The party was received at the Kenya Wildlife Services offices by the KWS director, Julius Kipng’etich, before being led to lay wreaths at the Heroes’ Corner in memory of the wildlife guards who died on duty.

They later unveiled a plaque at the Orphanage to launch the KWS adoption programme before taking a brief tour where they also had encounters with lions and leopards.

After the adoptions, Bolt and Jackson were taken for an evening game drive before they flew out last night.

Bolt and Jackson were in Kenya to officiate the launch of Zeitz Foundation’s Africa offices and operations last week.

The Zeitz Foundation chairman, Jochin Zeitz, also received a certificate in recognition for his work.