President Uhuru fetes Kipchoge for Vienna marathon achievement

President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulates Eliud Kipchoge after he awarded him with Elder of the Order of Golden Heart during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Mombasa. [Charles Kimani\DPPS]

World record marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge has been feted with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was presiding over the Mashujaa Day at Mama Ngina Waterfront Grounds in Mombasa feted the athlete, praising him for exemplary performance in Vienna.

“And in honour of all the heroes, past, present and future, I wish to invite and to recognize Eliud Kipchoge with the order of the Elder of the Golden Heart,” said Uhuru, at the end of his speech amidst jubilation.

Kipchoge made history after he ran marathon under two hours in Vienna, Austria. The race was dubbed Ineos 1:59.

Uhuru also lauded the win of Brigid Kosgei in the Chicago Marathon where she won the race in record 2:14: 04.

The award is the second class in the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya. It is given after the President gets an advice from the National Honours and Awards Committee.

In his speech, he mentioned several heroes and heroines such as the late environmental crusader Wangari Maathai. Uhuru noted Maathai’s narrative of a hummingbird, which worked tirelessly to extinguish forest fire with water in its mouth. Uhuru challenged Kenyans to embrace hard work saying that it’s the little positive things that matter.

He also mentioned Peter Tabichi, a teacher from Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru who clinched the Global Teacher Award earlier this year.

Uhuru seems to have avoided politics in his address, as he dwelled on majorly economic issues.

He assured residents that the projects launched at the Coast are on course. Such include road projects like Miritini, Mariakani Highway, Malgongo road and much more. Area Governor Hassan Joho earlier spoke and commended the President for working closely with the county government to initiate projects, which he said will benefit the region.

Joho, however, hinted at a possible dialogue with President Uhuru to address the concerns of traders who have protested orders compelling them to use Standard Gauge Railway to transport their goods.

Joho appealed for calm to allow dialogue saying that he is committed to working with the national government to implement projects.