Rotich habours big Olympic ambitions

Emmanuel Rotich (centre) during a past race in the United State. [Courtesy]

Steeplechaser shares his unbridled love for real estate development as he eyes spot in the world’s biggest sporting stage.

He grew up in a humble background in Sotik, Bomet County, braving numerous challenges.

Although this is the usual trend in Kenya’s rural areas, Emmanuel Rotich could run at least five kilometres to and from school in what stirred his athletics talent. And this helped him secure track scholarship at Tulane University in New Orleans, USA, in 2015.

The 23-year-old Rotich attended Kiptiget Primary School in Kaptien Tea Estate and Oldabach Primary School.

He later proceeded to Kaplong High School where he sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Examinations in 2012.

Rotich, a 3000m steeplechase specialist, has also competed in road races. He studied Bachelor of Science in architecture while undertaking a minor in Real Estate Development. He will graduate in two weeks time.

Knowing too well that athletics is a perishable cash crop, Rotich wants to make hay while the sun shines – becoming an Olympic champion and a big-time real estate developer.

Rotich’s grandmother Florence Kenagwa,67, expresses her excitement on seeing her grandson on the paper at her home in Keringet-Nakuru County

“I have just started professionally. It is interesting and I am impressed with the progress. I am a two-time all-American champion and before the lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic, I participated in some races in Boston and Houston,” he said. 

First things first. Rotich says he will concentrate on athletics before settling on the business of real estate.

“I am certain to accomplish these. Back in Kenya,  I have been doing research on sustainable solid waste management in Bomet.

“I am also building a recycling centre. I am interested in this area, and I am doing the projects through my organisation called GreenWave Sustainability Initiative,” he said.  

Rotich, whose role models are Ethiopia’s athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie and US tycoon Sidney Torres, said: “I want to become a real estate developer and come up with sustainable green solutions that will ensure proper housing while managing and conserving the environment.”

Rotich developed unbridled love for architecture from childhood. He loved drawing houses and buildings. 

“I could go to someone’s house and say, ‘can I draw your house?’ And I could draw it exactly the way it looked,” he recalls. 

Rotich, who is the university’s cross country team captain, said he faced difficult times before he settled in the US.