Muita soars in Nairobi Hospital Children's Charity Heart Tourney

Muburi Muita (left) presented his Men’s Winner Award by the Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer James Nyamongo at the Karen Golf and Country Club on Friday night.[Courtesy]

Homeboy Muburi Muita fired 42 stableford points to emerge men’s winner of the 2023 Nairobi Hospital Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament staged at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi on Friday.

Playing off handicap 13, the retired diplomat carded 18 points in the front nine and 24 at the back nine to record his first victory of the season in the event which aimed to raise funds to support free heart operations for needy children with heart problems.

“I had a fantastic flight on the course, we did not concentrate on the game alone but also on the worthy cause the tournament was advocating for,” Muita told Standard Sports.

“The course was fantastic, the greens were fair, I took a while to settle in the first nine where I had several pars and bogeys, but I played well in the second nine where I had pars all through the way including fantastic chips and putts. Today was one of those days,” he underlined.

Inspired by the victory, the retired ambassador whose diplomatic career spanned over four decades, says his mission this year is to lower his handicap to a single digit.

“After this tournament, my focus now turns to the KCB and NCBA golf series which I believe will help me realize the ultimate dream of lowering my handicap,” Muita stated.

Some of the participants during the the 2023 The Nairobi Hospital Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament staged at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi on Friday. [Courtesy]

Over 100 players took part in the tournament that aimed to raise Sh10 Million under the theme ‘Teeing to give little hearts big dreams.’

So far over 380 children have benefited from the tournament proceeds, about 20 are scheduled to undergo operation this year.

“Over the years, the Nairobi Hospital’s charity arm has sponsored free heart operations for needy children aged 0 – 12 years with congenital heart conditions.

“This initiative has benefitted more than 380 deserving children from different parts of the country,” the Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer James Nyamongo stated.

The hospital has partnered with various corporates and well-wishers to help raise the needed funds to cater for the children’s treatment.

Some of the corporates on board include Generics Africa, Sciencescope, NCBA Bank, and Crown Healthcare, Smart Applications, Surgipharm, Bio-quest Ltd, among others.

Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer James Nyamongo (right) presents one of the lady winners with a prize during the 2023 Nairobi Hospital Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament staged at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi on Friday. [Courtesy]

Nyamongo has appealed for more support to enable the affected children realize their dreams since the heart operations are costly, ranging from Sh550, 000 to Sh800,000 depending on the complexity of the heart condition.

“We sincerely appeal to our partners to consider adopting one or more children to facilitate their surgery,” Nyamongo said.

The third edition of the tournament slated for next year will target to raise Sh20 million to support the noble cause.

The 2023 Nairobi Hospital Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament results

1. Nearest To Pin Winner: Felix Osano
2. Longest Drive Lady: Rose Mambo
3. Longest Drive Man: S. Mang’eni
4. First Nine Winner: George Thuo
5. Second Nine Winner: Denis Kirui
6. Staff Winner:  Davies Ndambuki
7. Board Member Winner: Eddie Ouko
8. Lady Runner Up:  Kalee Maleli
9. Lady Winner: Belinda Mulindi
10. Man, Runner Up: Simon Mwangi
11. Man Winner: Muburi Muita
12. Overall, Winner: Alvin Kaisha