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Just like the proverbial toad, the athletes who paralysed operations at Riadha House for two days seem to have finally made the officials and government to listen to their demands.
Already a process to amend the Athletics Kenya constitution is set to begin under the stewardship of the Sports Ministry following an agreement between a section of Kenyan athletes and Athletics Kenya officials.
Following a retinue of long meetings, deliberations and consultations, the Ministry, Athletics Kenya and the athletes came to an agreement. “We have reached an agreement to call off the siege at Athletics Kenya headquarters and we are grateful that there is finally light at the end of tunnel. The Ministry for Sports has promised to resolve various issues,” said Wilson Kipsang, Professional Athletes Association president. On his part, outgoing sports permanent secretary Richard Ekai urged officials mentioned in corruption to step aside: “As a Ministry, we acknowledge there are serious issues being raised by the athletes, and we have agreed to start the process to amend the AK constitution.”
The constitution amendment was one of the demands both current and retired Kenyan athletes have been pushing for almost two years. And that’s not all, the runners want the current office to pack and go.
“Isaiah Kiplagat (president) must step down along with his deputy David Okeyo. They are not clean and have been disregarding our calls for dialogue,” lamented Richard Yator, an international marathoner.
The demands that come when the country is under scrutiny garnered unprecedented local and international media attention.
“Athletes always have to part with ‘kitu kidogo’ and sometimes ‘kitu kikubwa’ in order to get clearance to compete in races abroad. The role of the Federation should be to make things easy, not unbearable,” added Yator.
After failing to access his office, AK’s vice president retired General Jackson Tuwei termed the incident as unfortunate.
“There are better ways for athletes to air their grievances. We have not received an official complaint from any athlete,” said Tuwei.
The Riadha house takeover saw athletes spend a cold rainy night at the AK premises waiting for the crack of dawn and the arrival of Professional Athletes Association president Wilson Kipsang.
“If you see athletes braving the cold night, then you know we are desperate for change,” said Kipsang. On his part, the former World record holder and 2012 Boston Marathon champion who is the sitting Cherangany member of parliament Wesley Korir said: “The Athletics Kenya constitution does not favour athletes. They cannot even vote. This needs to be changed and empower athletes to vote for who leads them. We shall not relent in this fight.”
Meanwhile, as the world focuses on Russia and its doping scandal, the head of the Kenyan Olympic committee Kip Keino fears the spotlight may turn to Kenya.
There is however no evidence as yet about any doping cover-ups by Athletics Kenya officials.
Kenya topped the medals table at this year’s world championships ahead of Jamaica and the United States.
Kenya, boasting some of the world’s finest middle and long-distance runners, has in recent years been rocked by a spate of failed drug tests and the athletics federation has drawn criticism for not doing enough to tackle doping.
