World conquerors return home to heroes’ welcome

• Triumphant national team lands amid joy as Kenyans lavish champs with praise

Maintain the tempo

When the team landed, joyous shouts rent the air as everyone squeezed for a vantage position to welcome the champions like many would do with Usain Bolt or the world Cup trophy, with every single step of every athlete being captured Live on NTV.

“How can I miss this chance to welcome my friend back home? He’s done us proud and the party won’t stop in our village in Mwala,” said Benson Mutuku, a close friend to junior men gold medalist, Mwangangi.

“This is a very rare chance for our national athletics team. We need to maintain the tempo and claim more races in future,” said Bob Cheruiyot, a Satellite Academy student at the airport. “It gives us the morale to work even harder in our races. They are true role models.”

Security men at the usually busy airport had a difficult time controlling the crowd and not even the evening downpour was to deny them the chance to dance and sing their hearts out; after all, their brothers and sisters were back home.

After emerging from the glass door at the International Arrivals, the athletes and management acknowledged the adulation channeled in their direction by hundreds of flag-waving fans.

Journalists would be seen gate-crashing into ‘small family re-unions’ for interviews from family members, friends and even the junior school teachers.
There would be no denying of a Kenyan festival for a long time.

President Kibaki will host the team on Wednesday at State House from 10.30am before they leave for lunch at Panari Centre from 1pm.