Loroupe on course to replace gun with pen


Published on 10/11/2009

By Roselyne Obala

It was not the first time that Tegla Loroupe was being garlanded with an honour for her peace efforts. But every time she has stepped on the podium to receive an accolade, her face glows in the smile of one overwhelmed with great joy, recalling her over-joyed poise when she won the Rome Millennium Marathon in 2000.

Loroupe, still retaining her slender athletic frame despite retirement several years ago, was in her celebratory smile on Saturday as she was decorated by President Kibaki with an honorary doctorate for her endeavour to promote peace among warring groups in the country and the region.

The honour, conferred by Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega, brought out her passion for peace, which has replaced her finishing strides that once awed world marathon circuits.

"Once I was in a restaurant in the US and to my surprise, a group of individuals next to me were discussing how they would make money selling weapons to Kenya," she said.

She added: "My conscience and national pride was hurt and I could not hold it back. I confronted the strangers and let them know Kenya is a stable nation."

President Kibaki confers Tegla Loroupe with an honorary doctorate granted by Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard

She recalled how the hotel management ordered her to foot the bills of the strangers after they fled without paying.

"Little did I know that my actions would earn me recognition from the hotel management for coming out strongly to defend the integrity of my nation," she added.

Paid tribute

President Kibaki, who presided over the university’s third graduation ceremony, paid tribute to Loroupe.

The President was full of gratitude, praise and admiration for Loroupe’s efforts to unite society.

Loroupe struggles to replace the gun with the pen among pastoralist communities in the quest for everlasting peace.

Loroupe has modelled a new approach to peace-building through her motto "peace through sports".

"Such philosophy has motivated this university to start a new degree programme in sports science," said Prof Baraza Wangila Masinde Muliro’s vice chancellor.

The 36-year-old United Nations Athletics Ambassador, who rose from a humble Christian background from the slopes of Kokwopelekwa hills (a place where rabbits meet) in West Pokot, says nothing will make her to stop preaching peace.

She excelled in athletics in primary and secondary schools before she secured admission to Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology in Nakuru to study accounting

Through the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, she has organised numerous sports for peace, peace committees and restocking — a reward scheme for reformed warriors.

She notes that Kenya is not a warlike country and should not be categorised among nations like Sudan and Somalia.

"What happened after the December 2007 elections should not have occurred. We have always been recognised as a peaceful country and we should strive to rekindle our tainted glory," she advised.

She is the first Kenyan woman to set a world marathon record, a three-time champion in the world women half marathon championship, two-time world marathon record holder and the Rome Millennium Marathon Champion for 2,000.

Loroupe has used her achievements to promote peaceful co-existence and development of the marginalised people in the Horn of Africa.

In 2007 alone, she received four awards, namely the World YWCA Council Award, the Good Samaritan Award, Milele Lifetime Achievement Award by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the most Outstanding Service to Community award by the then Celtel Company.

Last year, she received the 2008 Sports Personality of the Year Award.

She boasts two additional awards by the State, the State Award (Silver Star 2000) and State Award Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW 2005).

Kenya’s chief mediator during the post election crisis and former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan noted Loroupe’s achievements in 2006 and appointed her a UN Goodwill Ambassador of Sports.

Ambassador

The slender athlete also wears other hats, the roles of UNICEF Ambassador, UN African Athlete Ambassador in war-torn Darfur (Sudan) and the IAAF African Athletics Ambassador.

As the saying goes, charity begins at home, many of the internally displaced persons have benefited from her noble gestures.

She visited many IDP camps across the country to support Kenyans who were displaced after the December 2007 disputed polls.

Currently, Loroupe has embarked on an ambitious proposed Sh300m Tegla Loroupe Peace Academy, which is under construction.

 

 

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