By Mutwiri Mutuota

"Umoja ni nguvu, untengano ni uthaifu (unity is strength, division is a weakness)," was the clarion call made by twice world women’s marathon world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Catherine Ndereba in relation to Nairobi 2010 Africa Athletics Championships.

Ndereba, who is among nine official local athlete’s ambassadors for the July 28 to August 1 event, was speaking on Tuesday night during a function where the championships’ Local Organising Committee met members of the Media Owners Association.

"It’s rewarding that we are being recognised for the work we have done to promote this country and we should join hands to support the event since Kenya has done many good things for the sport.

"We need to show all other countries that we are one in promoting the events because it will not be a good image if we do not," Ndereba added in her short remarks to the cocktail gathering at a Nairobi hotel.

Title holders

Twice world women’s marathon world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Catherine Ndereba during the LOC and Media Owners Association, on Tuesday. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA]

Joining the four-time Boston Marathon champion in popularising the event are former world men marathon record holder and twice Olympic 10,000m silver winner, Paul Tergat, largely hailed as ‘the gentleman of distance running’.

Other ambassadors include Olympic, London and Chicago marathons titleholder, Samuel Wanjiru, Olympic 800m champions, Wilfred Bungei (men) and Pamela Jelimo (women) who holds the Africa crown, Osaka 2007 800m women’s champion, Janeth Jepkosgei and World men steeplechase champion, Ezekiel Kemboi.

Africa 10,000m bronze winner, Grace Momanyi, whose plight at Beijing Olympics when she was unceremoniously dropped from the women’s 25-lap squad captivated the nation and reigning Africa champion and 800m men’s record holder, David Lekuta Rudisha complete the list.

Unveiling them, Nairobi 2010 LOC chair, Isaiah Kiplagat, said the ambassadors were selected to give the championships the face it deserves as Kenya aims at stamping her authority in the sport come the continental showpiece.

Speaking at the same function, LOC CEO, David Okeyo, called on the country’s media outlets to sustain the promotional push to ensure the Nyayo National Stadium is filled during the five-day event. Chief Guest, Information Minister, Samuel Poghisio, urged those selected to compete in the country’s colours to bring in as many medals as possible to underline Kenya’s status as an athletics powerhouse.

During the event, Kenya Commercial Bank weighed in with Sh150,000 as sponsorship for the event. Representative Kepha Bosire, the bank’s Corporate Affairs Manager noted the event would be a fitting tribute to the country’s runners.