Why legendary athletes are petitioning the Senate

Veteran athletes led by Mike Boit, after a consultative meeting in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on April 19, 2025. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] Athletics legends are making yet another move to seek support for aging sportsmen and women who carried Kenya's flag high, back in the days. A plan by the men and women who laid the foundation and positioned Kenya as an athletics powerhouse during their prime converged in Eldoret on Good Friday to petition the Senate to prioritise their welfare. The proposed petition, they said, will seek to get Parliament's support for sports legends to be recognised. According to the running legends, who represented Kenya in the 1960s and 1970s, who met at the Eldoret Arboretum, the country's retired athletes were not being accorded the recognition worth their efforts to medal for Kenya. Through the petition, they hope to be recognised, and the welfare of the elderly former athletes is given utmost priority. Legends among them Prof Mike Boit, a 1972 Munich Olympic bronze medallist in 800m, Charles Asati, a track star of the 1960s and (4x400m relay champion at the 1972 Olympics), 1968 3000m steeplechase Olympic gold medallist Amos Biwott and his spouse Vivian and 1991 African champion Susan Sirma. The meeting of legends was organised by the Veteran Athletes Association, led by former Berlin marathon champion Simon Biwott and Sirma among other retired athletes. Christopher Cheboiboch, a New York City Marathon runner-up in 2002 said he was working with Prof Boit and several other legends to petition the Senate to have retired athletes recognised. "I want to promise the country that we want to come up with a petition to the Senate, and I hope it will culminate in a bill that will define how Kenyan legends will be recognised. We also want to recommend to the government that retired athletes be considered for monthly stipends for their contribution to sports," Cheboiboch, who is serving the second term as Member of County Assembly for Emsoo Ward in Elgeyo Marakwet, said. He said he will use his experience in politics and legislation to ensure that the legends are recognised and their welfare encapsulated in a proposed law. "The petition will help the retired athletes who brought fame to our country. We have all it takes to ensure that the petition reaches the floor of the house and is subjected to public participation," Cheboiboch said. He said sports facilities such as Kamariny, which produced numerous world beaters and record holders, should be preserved as part of the country's monuments. Asati said Kenya should not waste the experience of its sports legends. After retirement from active sport, no one still needs our expertise, the legendary athlete said. "A chance to inspire the current generation of athletes is often unavailable," said Asati. During the meeting, legends of the 1960s and the 1970s interacted with casts who retired from sports in the 1990s and 2000s just to share experiences. Vivian Cherono Biwott, who competed in the 1972 Olympic Games, and who was in the same team with her husband, Amos Biwott, said she at times feels ashamed when they are forced to watch athletics actions on the sidelines without a seat at their age. She is 70 and her husband Biwott is 79. "When there are competitions in Eldoret and we turn up to cheer athletes, we at times locked out because the younger generation doesn't recognise us. "Sports run in our blood, but when we show up to follow athletics action, organisers even forget to offer us seats. At our age, we stand up for several hours. "What makes us proud is that we represented our country. Just give us an opportunity to motivate our young athletes," she said. Cherono recalls competing in one of the local cross country races last December, where she finished fourth in her category but no one knew that she ever flew the country's flag at the 1972 Olympic Games. Francis Bowen, who is fresh from setting a record during World Masters Indoor Championships in Florida, USA said the veterans were not given a heroic welcome following their recent achievement. "We got immense support from the Ministry of Sports and Athletics Kenya. I am yet to be honoured with the reception after the World Masters Indoor Championships. I am optimistic that my County, Elgeyo Marakwet or the national government will receive us soon," said Bowen. Bowen is thankful that among many legends, he has been recognised through the Heroes Council. Bernard Wasike from the National Museums of Kenya also joined the legends.

Why legendary athletes are petitioning the Senate

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