Conjestina Achieng. [photo./the-star.co.ke]They were once household names who commanded a huge following locally and internationally. However, their lives turned for the worse following a combination of different factors and they have never recovered or are still struggling to.
Joe Kadenge (Football)
“Kadenge na mpira”…Remember him? Well, Kenya’s legendary footballer Joe Kadenge is considered the finest talent to have emerged from our shores. He dazzled in his playing days, plying his trade with Maragoli United, and scored the fastest ever goal in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).
Conjestina Achieng’ (Boxing)
The famous “Hands of Stone” was the darling of many just less than a decade ago, having taken down opponents with relative ease as she won title after another. Those titles earned her fame and fortune but her health started deteriorating especially from 2011 going in and out of hospital with mental problems. She now leaves in poverty in her rural home in Siaya.
Pamela Jelimo (Athletics)
A classic case of a one-hit wonder, Jelimo burst onto the scene aged just 18, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning gold in the 800m and went on to have perhaps the best season for any Kenyan middle distance runner as she claimed the IAAF Golden League jackpot worth Sh76 million.
But with fame and fortune came more troubles for “Kapsabet Express” with marital issues said to have contributed to her downfall. She has since made several attempts to return to the track but all have proved futile. Her best days seem to be behind her even though she is only 27.
Henry Motego (Football)
Motego began playing for local side Shabana before moving to Kenya Breweries FC (now Tusker FC) in 1989. He made several appearances for Harambee Stars, including 1988, 1990 and 1992 African Cup of Nations.
After retirement, he became a pale shadow of his former self, doing menial jobs at construction sites to make ends meet until the Kisii County government gave him a role in the sports department two years ago.
Suleiman Bilali (Boxing)
Bilali, who won Kenya an Olympics gold medal in Seoul, South Korea in 1998, leads an impoverished life in Nairobi’s Muthurwa neighborhood. He has nothing to show for it and is now a pale shadow of the pugilist who once lived largely and drove sleek cars.
George “Jojo’’ Waweru (Football)
Jojo was once a top-rated Harambee Stars defender who took part in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations under coach Jacob “Ghost’’ Mulee. Jojo played professional football in Sweden at one point. But a neck injury sustained during the Afcon event was not well attended to and he was subsequently neglected by the federation. His club Tusker got fed up and terminated his contract and that is when he began substance abuse at Nairobi’s Maringo slums. He continues his journey towards rehabilitation as he struggles to make ends meet.