Kenyan Athlete Who Now Runs For The U.S Begs Kenyans Not Brand Him As A Betrayer

At the 42nd World Cross Country Championships held in the Ugandan capital Kampala, it seemed Kenyans were set to compete against each other Kenyans.The difference was that not all Kenyans represented Kenya.In the senior men 10km for instance, five were former Kenyans in a team of 28 runners in USA squad.Stanley Kebenei and Shadrack Kipchirchir were among the runners going against Kenyans.Kebenei won nine NCAA junior national championship titles at Iowa Central Community College before joining the University of Arkansas and has now signed a professional contract with Nike.Kipchirchir, born in Eldoret qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics in 10,000m and in 2015, he finished 16th at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in the 25 lap-race.The two have asked Kenyans not to be quick to brand them as traitors but support them.“We love Kenya, we love you. Just support us we know you guys don’t like us now (for representing USA),” said Kebenei while in Kampala and after falling to win a gold medal.When Kenya won, he said:“Congratulations to Kenya. I know you love us and we love you too. Now we go back to training and meet again, probably in the World Championships in London.”In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics more than 30 Kenyans represented other countries with Turkey and Bahrain with the highest numbers. USA was also represented by Kenyans in the competition.And as things become clear to the world of how the Kenyan government is ignoring and mishandling its athletes, more countries continue to notice Kenya can be a hub to shop for top athletes.Ruth Jebet, who hails from Kosirai area in Nandi County, made a strong statement about Kenya’s athletics ‘exports’ as she cruised to victory in women’s 3,000m steeplechase race in a world record time.When she landed in Bahrain, Jebet was driven to meet Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who said the feat was the country’s strongest show in the Olympic Games (Rio 2016).It won its first gold medal as well as a silver medal, a feat that placed it at the top of the Arab countries.“I still urge my Kenyan fans to rally behind me and I might break the record again,” she said.