Kenyans at Kasarani stadium supporting the athletics team. [Photo/ Protel]
The recently concluded IAA World U18 Championships, held in Nairobi, showed that Kenyans are one large family, whose members have more common interests than differences. The country broke the attendance record of the championships, with more than 60,000 fans attending the event on Sunday. According to officials, more than 40,000 enthusiastic supporters of athletics were turned away on the last day of the tournament as Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani was filled to capacity.
[Photo/Nelly Muluka]
As the young Kenyans competed in the field, the fans on the stands, and millions watching on television, cheered excitedly. Everyone in the country was rooting for fellow Kenyans to do well in the races. In the end, Kenya finished at a respectable 4th, getting a total of 15 medals — the highest in the tournament. Only South Africa, China and Cuba got more gold medals than the host country.
People from around the world praised the unity of Kenyans, as exhibited by the fans who attended the games at Kasarani, saying it was the first time in the history of the competition that people were so excited to back their team. When cheering our athletes, no one raised any issue that nearly all Kenyan representatives in the championships came from Jubilee strongholds. Die-hard NASA supporters fully cheered for our brothers and sisters from Rift Valley, who have historically done well in races, to the finish line.
With just over 20 days to the general election, it is unimaginable that some politicians will try to make Kenyans fight each other over politics. Leaders seeking political office, some of who attended the games at Kasarani, should do everything to keep Kenyans united.