Women are the source of life

Where have you been? Why did you leave athletics? I stopped running to concentrate in managing the affairs of my foundation, the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation. And how is that going? At the beginning, financial challenges abounded, making it hard to plan for events. I developed trust with people but didn’t have enough resources to help them. Our vehicles were damaged due to rough terrain/bad roads. It was hard to start, but local leaders-chiefs and church leaders made it possible. But you’ve made it, haven’t you? Yes, we have made great progress. Many communities now trust and live together and visit the markets there. They trade with each other. There is minimal cattle rustling among communities like the Sabaot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, and Marakwet after participating in the races. The success attracted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s attention. He requested for an inter-government race between the warring communities at the Kenya-Uganda border. It was successful. l look forward to introduce the same peace initiative in Sudan. You can’t be at peace when your neighbour has no peace. Want to reach out and empower more women in the community. I want to see my academy grow into institutions of higher learning to help the needy. What inspired you to start the foundation? I had thought about it as a child growing up in West Pokot where conflicts were rampant. However, at that time, l had no name or influence and could do nothing. Later, as a famous athlete, I regularly invited by other nations - Darfur, Indonesia and Casablanca, to run for peace and raise funds. l realised tAhat if they can see my value as an athlete, l could do the same at home. I started the foundation knowing sports would work as it used to peacefully unite us in primary during competitions. What’s the one thing that made a huge impact on your life? I was in Class Four, looking at the photos of Japan’s Hiroshima bombing with fellow pupils. Our teacher passed by and heard some commotion as pupils struggled with photos. He caned me for starting the noise. I cried and told him that one day, I woud visit Japan - the venue of bombing. Later while in college, l was among athletes chosen to participate in athletics in Japan. While there, l visited the Hiroshima place l had seen in photos. I still had a mark from the beating by the teacher. It was painful because other pupils cheered as l was being caned since l had never been beaten in class. We don’t hear much about your family. Are you married? I have never married and have no children of my own. But I take care of my sister’s children. What qualities do you look for in a man? He should be proud of himself, his people and his country, clean and corruption-free. What do you fear most? I fear conflict. I do not want to be a refuge in a foreign country, l have travelled wide and found that Kenya is the best country. In most conflicts women and children suffer. What annoys you most? Exposing the weaknesses of our country. We tell others a lot how we are corrupt, thereby destroying our reputation. I have visited many countries; they don’t reveal their weaknesses. What do you like about being a woman? We are the source of life. We are charged with giving birth to and raising leaders. We are special because of this responsibility. Which slogan do you live by? God is everything. What else do you do? I also runs Tegla Lorupe Peace Academy, which rescues children orphaned by conflict like Tana River and shelters young victims fleeing from early marriage. It currently has 300 children. How do you unwind? I farm and watch rugby.