By PETER OCHIENG

Uasin Gishu ,KENYA; Three counties in the North Rift are engaged in an intense battle over a slogan.

The three, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Nandi and Uasin Gishu, each want to brand themselves as the ‘Home of champions’ for producing world-beating athletes.

However, Elgeyo/Marakwet seemed to have pulled the rug off the other counties by registering the slogan, thus claiming exclusive rights to use it.

Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo/Marakwet counties have been secretly battling out  between themselves over  which county should use the name.

Locals and senior officials from both counties separately use the name especially at functions where they receive visitors from other countries.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos revealed to The Standard that his government had already registered the slogan ‘Home of champions’ at the Attorney General’s chambers and it will be an offence if any other county uses it.

“The tag line is now officially ours and we intend to make use of it in marketing our county and creating a unique brand for ourselves,” said Tolgos.

He said his county deserves the tag due to the fact that majority of international athletes including Olympian Ezekiel Kemboi, hail from the county.

Tolgos said they intended  to make use of the good reputation that most of the county’s  athletes have earned worldwide on track to lure investors to the county.

All the counties marketing themselves as ‘Home of champions’.

Following the new development, Nandi has indicated that it would brand itself as ‘The source of champions’.

The county executive for sports and culture, Patrick Sang, said they picked on the new slogan because most of the well known athletes started running in the county.

City of champions

“People like Kipchoge Keino, the man who introduced Kenyans to athletics trained here and also hails from Nandi. Very many former and current athletes  come from Nandi, so we are the source,” said Sang.

Uasin Gishu deputy Governor Daniel Chemno yesterday told The Standard his county would market itself as  ‘The city of champions’ owing to its size, prominence and location as the North Rift hub.

Chemno however said many athletes have settled in Uasin Gishu and deserved to be the home of the champions.

He said majority of the legendary and world record holders call Eldoret home.