By air and by road, Kenyan stars of yesteryears honour guest invitation

Pioneer athletes arrived at the Safari Park Hotel, their home for the next seven days like visiting rock stars after being flown in from various parts of the country to watch the World Under-18 Athletics Championships like royalty.

But 75-years-old Ben Kogo, a member of the 1968 Olympics 4x400 metres silver medal winning quartet, was an exception. He arrived in a Great Rift shuttle from Eldoret when his anxiety and suspicion got the better of him on Monday when his air tickets failed to arrive on time.

The overnight matatu was the only option. At Safari Park, he was handed over his return ticket before Fatwell Kimaiyo strolled to where he was and casually, smiling from ear to ear, having taken the 7:30 am flight, said: “You failed to heed my word.”

Kogo was least bothered. “I last boarded a plane 47 years ago,” he said as he neatly folded his e-ticket.

“Now you are telling me I will be returning home by air. Amazing,” he said.

Amos Biwott, the 1968 Olympics 3000 metres steeplechase gold medallist at 19 had accompanied Kogo to the city. “My home is only 4km from Eldoret Airport. So, I will simply tell mama to prepare tea at 2pm and 35 minutes later I am home. Tutatembea na huyu kijana, - we will hang out with this young man,” he added pointing to Kogo.

Kogo said what disoriented him was the traffic jam in Nairobi. In 1970, Nairobi was small and their journey had a lot of fan fare including special prayer meetings. 

Nyantika Maiyoro, the oldest of the lot, in his mid 80s too, spotted a god father hat, neat tie and was beaming in happiness.

Like Kogo, waiting for the air tickets was too much for his like and so he took an overnight matatu from Nyamira.

The Local Organising Committee has invited 157 athletes who have won medals at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

They will eat, drink and sleep at five star hotel courtesy of the organisers.

They mingled with the active ones, many in designer attire who drove themselves to Nairobi in top of the Range SUVs, a stark reminder of the journey so far covered. Kogo recalled that they used to get blankets, lantern laps and bars of soap for winning.

They government then only allowed those employed two weeks leave.

Patrick Sang, double Olympics 3000 metres steeplechase silver medallist was an exception. The Nandi County Government Minister for sports headed to Kenyatta University for a Sports Symposium which was addressed by among others IAAF President Sebastian Coe.

The special side of the stadium has been set aside for the stars of yesteryears, complete with a restaurant with catering provided by a three star hotel.

Sports Ministry PS Peter Kaberia spent the entire Monday supervising finishing work before proclaiming Kenya was ready to host the world.

He said Kasarani and the adjust neighbourhood has been upgraded to a high security installation with 4,000 police offers on guard and a similar number of NYS personnel.