Does Kenya really have a sports heritage?

Amani Kenya leader Musalia Mudavadi visited Kenyan legend Joe Kadenge at Nairobi hospital where he is admitted after he suffered stroke [Courtesy]

God works in mysterious ways. Despite the many times the government buries its head in the sand regarding helping retired sports heroes and heroines, the matter keeps on rearing its ugly head.

 Since the beginning of 2019 we have seen instances where sports legends can’t stop being in the news as reminders that we don’t have a sports heritage. Period.  If it has, then it stands on quick sand. Like freedom fighters, those who fought hard, sacrificed to win medals for Kenya are nowhere near the dinner table.

Just last week, AFC Leopards legends crawled out of the woodwork to intervene in the goings on at the club. Led by Dan Shikanda, Mahmoud Abbass, Nahashon Busuru, Reginald Asibwa and others they gave their statement under the banner ‘Ingwe Rescue Team’. It means they value and are still loyal to their alma mater, AFC Leopards FC. They don’t care what people call them but all they want is to see their club get its former glory by all means.

As that was happening a former Ingwe great Joe Kadenge suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. The story of Kadenge is well known to many soccer lovers in Kenya. He is a typical example of treating the symptoms and not what ails former soccer stars. None other than   President Uhuru Kenyatta and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga did their best to ensure Kadenge got what it takes to salvage his dwindling medical condition.

With financial resources and medical cover at his disposal, they called on relevant authorities to support former sports heroes and heroines. The mainstream and social media have been very kind to Joe Kadenge, highlighting his plight and blowing it.  

As we worry over Kadenge, the case of former athlete Nyantika Maiyoro came up almost at the same time. In many African communities, it is believed there is a way in which old folks communicate to each other. In Kenya, it appears there is a way retired sports heroes and heroines called each other to sorrowful situations. Maybe God almighty decided to compound their fate to send a simultaneous message to the ineffective Kenyan authorities.

Thank you athletic great Paul Tergat for committing the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) to ensuring Nyantika is helped to recover his normal status. As a former athlete, Tergat knows and feels for Nyantika and no wonder he went out of his way to use his position to lead from the front. We salute you Paul.

A few weeks ago, another athletic legend Henry Rono sought help to relocate and retire peacefully in Kenya from the USA where he has been for over 40 years.  It was yet another legend, Kipchoge Keino, who took up the challenge and promised to ensure Rono returned home to a humane retirement among his people. Thanks Kip, you are a true patriot.   

The momentum set by Tergat and Kip Keino should be used to rescue other track stars like Hezekiah Nyamao, Charles Asati, Robert Ouko, Ben Jipcho and others languishing in serious squalor.

All the officials who grace international cocktails and conferences should know that were it not for these men and women Kenya would not have earned a respectful standing in the international conventions that they now attend. Kenya is treated with lots of respect in Olympic circles due to the effort put in by Kip Keino, Paul Tergat, Ezekiel Kemboi, Henry Rono, Mike Boit, Rose Tata-Muya, Elizabeth Olaba and others.

When Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko used his own initiative to look for boxers Congestina Achieng and Suleiman Bilali it was a great effort by the governor who is a believer in social enterprise.

We should not forget the retired boxing greats wallowing in very sad situations like Phillip Waruinge, who has since been deported from his base in Japan. He is Kenya’s only pugilist to ever grace three consecutive Olympics. He won he Val Barker Trophy in the 1968 Mexico Olympics as the greatest ‘pound-to-pound boxer’ in the tournament, the only black African to so win since South Africa’s George Hunger in the 1948 London Games.

Then there is Omar Kasongo and Steve Muchoki, a world beater in his time, but who is not sure of his next meal.

As government officials and politicians are falling over each other for photo-ops with an ailing Kadenge in hospital many retired sportsmen and women are quietly dying lost and forgotten somewhere in the villages.

Very soon we will see Nick Mwendwa praising Harambee Stars for reaching the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and will talk passionately how Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will ensure the team retreats to France for preparations before playing friendlies against other teams.

Does Mwendwa know where or who John Nyawanga, Allan Thigo, Joram Roy and Steve ‘MacQueen’ Yongo are? Have Sports CS Rashid Echesa and PS Kirimi Kaberia ever heard of these names? When tickets for Afcon 2019 in Egypt are booked, these officials will be the first ones on the ‘gravy train’ without asking how did Kenya first appear at Afcon in 1972 in the first place? Who were the brave warriors who ensured Kenya stamped its name on the continental tournament?

I wish to remind Kenyan soccer lovers that in the first Harambee Stars to participate in Afcon in 1972, only four members are alive and in pathetic conditions despite their heroic feat in Cameroun ’72. As they remain faceless to the current FKF, let us also pray for Joram Roy (retired in Kakamega County), Steve Yongo (retired in Homabay County), Allan Thigo (retired in Kisumu County) and John Nyawanga (retired but location still unknown).

The 900 kilogram gorilla in the room is: Does Kenya really have a sports heritage?