Monument unveiled in Eldoret to honour athletes

Mediheal Group of Hospitals and Athletics Kenya have unveiled the champions monument in Eldoret town in honour of retired, elite and upcoming athletes in the country.

The bronze monument, set up by Mediheal Group of Hospitals, is situated at the junction of Kaptagat and Nairobi road.

It was unveiled by Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Rahul Chhabra flanked by Uasin Gishu County Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno, MPs Caleb Kositany (Soy), Dr Swarup Mishra (Kesses) and Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei among others.

The event took place shortly after an anti-doping seminar for Saturday’s national cross country trials held at Noble Hotel, Eldoret.

The effigy depicts two female athletes and two male athletes attached on a world map running towards different directions.

One of the males is holding an Olympic torch in one hand while the rest have their hands raised up as a sign of victory.

It also has an image of a male athlete mounted on the top draped in the Kenyan flag.

Dr Mishra, who is also the proprietor of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, lauded the county government of Uasin Gishu for giving him the go ahead to erect the monument.

He said that beside the monument being an honour to athletes, it will also double as a tourist attraction for both local and international visitors to the region.

“The Champion Monument will not only inspire the whole society in this country but also motivate all those wishing to do athletics,” said Dr Mishra.

Chhabra noted that the statue shows the importance of athletes and other sportsmen and women to the country.

“Kenya is well known for doing well in athletes and the creation of this monument indicates the significance of sports to the country,” he said.

Chemno said that the county government will do all it takes to preserve the monument which is estimated to cost Sh5.6 million.

“It has taken us over 55 years after independence to have a signature monument for Eldoret Town which is close to attaining city status and all we are saying is that we shall work closely with Mediheal Group of Hospitals to make sure that the monument is well protected and secured,” said Chemno.

Kositany challenged other corporate bodies to emulate Mediheal Group of Hospitals by putting up similar monuments in various parts of the county.

“I want to call upon all those people who have invested in Eldoret Town to consider putting up more such monuments as an honour to all those people who have brought pride to this country,” said Kositany adding that medical facilities should offer reduced medical fees to athletes and other sports people.

Tuwei on his part reiterated the need by county governments to erect such monuments in devolved units as a sign of honour to all those who have made Kenya proud in different fields.

“This is the only monument that honours sportspeople outside Nairobi. We have similar monuments at Riadha House and we would wish to see more of this in our counties,” Tuwei said.