Kenya’s junior athletics team was warmly welcomed home after securing second place at the World Athletics Under-20 Championship in Oregon, USA.
The young athletes, many of whom were competing abroad for the first time, were greeted with cheers, songs and dance a testament to the nation’s enduring pride in its sports heritage.
The first group was led by 1500m world champion gold medalist Josephine Sembeyo, landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, later followed with the second group.
They were received by nominated Senator Hezena Lematian, who celebrated them for them. Sembeyo has urged the Ministry of Sports and the Kajiado County Government to establish a training camp to support them in the county.
“I am appealing to the Ministry of Sports and the County Government of Kajiado to build us a training camp because we were chased out of our previous training camp forcing me to rent a house in town so as to train,” Sembeyo said.
The AK officials led by chief administrative officer Susan Kamau led the reception, with Kenya securing 11 medals: 4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze, finishing second behind the US.