By GILBERT WANDERA
The just concluded 2013 General Elections saw a historic number of sportsmen and women contesting for elective posts.
Though not all of them carried the day, a substantial number of them made it either to the August House or in other elective posts.
The most outstanding win was that of current Boston marathon champion Wesley Korir who won the Cherangany Constituency parliamentary race after dethroning Joshua Kuttuny, a close ally of Deputy President elect William Ruto.
Korir who ran as an independent candidate surprised everyone by clinching the seat. He rode against a strong wave of the region’s popular political vehicle the United Republican Party. Korir attributes his win to reliance on his grassroots networks.
The 28-year-old athlete said he will defend the Boston Marathon title this year even after he was elected as MP. He is likely to be a sensation on the track as he will be the only Member of Parliament in the race.
Korir thanked his constituents for having faith in him and termed his election as the perfect gift to inspire his performance in Boston.
“I am determined to represent my people well in Parliament as this is the only way through which I can repay them for having faith in me,” Korir told the Standard immediately after his election.
He completed his form four education in 2002 and joined the University of Nairobi to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. Later, he opted for a US track scholarship.
Another case of a sportsman in politics is that of Charles Cherono, a former marathoner and husband of former world cross-country junior silver medalist Prisca Jepleting who won the County Representative seat in Kibigos Ward of Elgeyo Marakwet.
Other sportsmen include Simion Bor, the 2006 Hong Kong Marathon winner who clinched the County Representative seat for Kosirai Ward and Philip Kipkurgat Manyim, the 2005 Berlin Marathon winner, who won the County Assembly seat in Uasin Gishu County.
Christopher Cheboiboch, a runners up in Boston is the new County Assembly representative for Emsoo Ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County while Wilson Boit Kipketer, a former world 3,000m steeplechase record holder and the former councillor for Kabiemit Ward successfully won the Kabiemit Ward seat.
It was not only athletes who captured political seats. AFC Leopards chairman Alex Magelo was elected the County Speaker for Nairobi.
Magelo had earlier unsuccessfully tried to contest the Kajiado North Parliamentary seat where he lost. He is a former nominated councillor in Nairobi.
Magelo said his election as speaker in Nairobi will give him a better profile to serve Leopards and other sports teams. “I am not going to resign as AFC Leopards Chairman since the Constitution does not require me to do that. Rather, I will use my new position to serve this great club in an even better way,” he said. Leopards go for elections in June and it remains to be seen whether Magelo will defend his seat, given his newfound responsibilities.
Alfred Sambu, a former AFC Leopards Chairman and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman also made it to parliament after he was elected Member of Parliament for Webuye East on a UDF ticket.
Sambu was previously MP for Webuye in the previous Parliament on an ODM ticket.
He is regarded as having been the most successful chairman of AFC Leopards considering that during his time, the club enjoyed massive sponsorship and won many titles locally and in the region. Sambu’s administration did not spare any expense to inspire the club to success. During his tenure, the club employed its first foreign coach Danish Jack Johnson to help steer them to success.
His reign at FKF was, however, marred by controversy and did not even complete his term after being suspended. However, this could have been a blessing in disguise since he was forced to venture into politics.
While Sambu captured the Webuye East seat, Dan Wanyama, a former Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Secretary General was elected as MP for Webuye West.
Wanyama is also a former national team player. Several former Sports Ministers also made it back to Parliament lead by Francis Nyenze (Kitui West), Maina Kamanda (Starehe), Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi). Daniel Maanzo, a former Sports Secretary in the Ministry of Sports was elected MP for Makueni.
After President Mwai Kibaki signed into law the new sports bill, the high number of sports officials elected in various positions can only be a blessing to the industry.
These sports personalities are expected to push for the enactment of the new bill to ensure that sports indeed becomes a major industry.
