Kenyan athletes who emerged top in the just concluded World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China have complained of poor reception and being mishandled during the hyped reception.
According to some of the athletes, the organisers communicated contradictor messages to them and had them manhandled and pushed into Sonko Rescue vehicles without their belongings being taken care of.
I am preparing a national feast where I will slaughter 10 bulls,50 goats,300 fish and 500 ingokho and ducks in celebration of our athletes.
— Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) August 30, 2015
Initially informed that they were to go for reception at KICC with pictures circulated that the venue was well prepared, the athletes found themselves in Ruto’s Karen home. Many individuals with different interests including opportunistic activists like Boniface Mwangi all descended on JKIA wanting to grab the athletes to satisfy own interests.
All ready for our athletes #TeamKenya #KaribuniNyumbani pic.twitter.com/2138FamDPN — Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) September 1, 2015
Even Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko tweeted an already pampered KICC venue which was later dumped and the athletes taken to Karen. It is not clear why the government prepared the KICC venue and later discarded the idea and how much the organisers and suppliers will be paid for the work.
Some of the athletes who were left behind at JKIA included 400m hurdles champion, Nicholas Bett.
Our athletes have made history. This is exceptional and we are proud of you. On behalf of the President and the people…
Posted by William Samoei Ruto on Monday, August 31, 2015
