We have a problem as a country in how we honour our legendary sportsmen and women, something that is beckoning for change.
A few weeks ago when Kenya’s Harambee Stars played against Ethiopia at the Kasarani Stadium, a very unfortunate incident happened when our football legend, Dennis Oliech was subjected to “humiliation”.
As Kenyans fought their way into the stadia, Oliech, our very own legend who not only sacrificed his earnings to buy tickets for his Harambee Stars teammates when KFF was a shamble but also remains our all-time top scorer having scored 34 goals on national duty could not gain direct access to the stadium.
It was a big shame to see him struggling like any other Kenyans to enter Kasarani.
‘Dennis the Menace’ – as we popularly cheered him when he diligently served the nation, did not get a seat in the VIP section which, by all means, he is entitled to.
Such acts speak volumes on how good we are as a country in consigning to oblivion our legends.
Oliech, however, is not alone; there is Congestina Achieng, one of Kenya's most well-known sporting figures.
She made history by being the first Kenyan woman to win a professional boxing title. After her success, the downfall for the 41-year-old boxing queen was fast.
Congestina suffered a change fortunes that did not just affect her mentally but also financially. She got hooked to drugs which is reportedly said to have caused her mental breakdown.
Watching Congestina in a deplorable state of mind in the viral clip doing rounds on social media, one is left wondering where is the place of men and women who once flew the country's flag.
It is a shame that we intentionally choose to forget about the men and women who have at one point in their lives brought glory for the country.
As a nation with a feeling of gratitude, it’s time to change this narrative.
Mwangi X Muthiora is a political commentator, a blogger and a poet.