Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has promised legendary athlete Kipchoge Keino that the government will give him the honors he deserves.
Namwamba was speaking on Wednesday, December 7, at the Nairobi National Museum during the medal re-allocation ceremony of the 2008 Olympics 800m champion Pamela Jelimo.
“We have even asked the government to honor you more while you are still alive. It is always good to honor each other while still breathing," Namwamba revealed.
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“We were with you last month when we buried your great friend, Wilson Kiprugut, who was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal in Tokyo in 1964,” he continued.
Namwamba noted that Kiprugut was laid to rest without receiving a national honor despite his success on the track.
Consequently, the CS indicated that Wilson Kiprugut will equally be given his honor by the government.
Furthermore, Namwamba revealed that Kiprugut will be the last athlete that will be honored posthumously.
Keino made history in 1965 when he broke the 3,000m world record with a time of 7:39.6 in his first attempt at the distance.
In 1966 he broke the 5,000m world record held by Ron Clarke, clocking 13:24.2 at the Common Wealth Games in Kingston.
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