Former and current top Kenyan international runners living in Uasin Gishu County have a reason to smile.
This was after the Uasin Gishu County Assembly anonymously passed a motion that will exempt them from paying parking fees in Eldoret town as a sign of appreciation for bringing glory to the country.
The sponsor of the motion, Gilbert Tenai who is the member of county assembly in Cheptiret/Kipchamo ward said he was compelled to come up with the motion following constant harassment and mistreatment of the runners by county enforcement officers when they park their vehicles in the town streets.
He said the runners have marketed the country globally through their exploits in various races and that the only way to appreciate their good work is to exempt them from paying parking fees.
“The motion has been passed by all county assembly members and it is only waiting to be signed into law by Governor Jackson Mandago ahead of its implementation,” said Tenai.
He said cases, where private vehicles belonging to the runners were being clamped down by county enforcement officers for none payment of parking fees will now be a thing of the past once the bill is assented to into law.
Eldoret town is home to former and current top athletes among them former World Steeplechase record holder Ezekiel Kemboi Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, Women’s New York City marathon winner Mary Keitany and Berlin marathon women winner Gladys Cherono among others.
If implemented, Uasin Gishu will be the first county government to spare scores of former and current elite athletes from paying parking fees in the country.
Tenai spoke during the official opening of a filling petrol station owned by international marathoner Vivian Cheruiyot at Annex trading center along Eldoret-Nakuru highway in Uasin Gishu County.
Addressing the gathering, Mandago assured hundreds of the runners who also graced the event that he will sign into law the bill once it lands on his desk.