President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged the Kenya Olympics team heading to Rio to prove and uphold the clean reputation of the country as they head to the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil set to start in August. Speaking at state house this morning as he officially flagged off the Olympics team to Rio, Brazil, he said it’s the turn of the team to take Kenya’s heritage even further and make Kenyans proud as he assured them of the country’s support, “We will pray for you, cheer you on and wish you the best as you tell the world the beautiful story of Kenya, the land of joyful, determined, hardworking proud people,” said the President, adding that they bear the expectations of 40 million Kenyans.
The president was keen to highlight the fact that Kenya has hardworking and clean athletes who don’t need performance enhancing drugs to win, “These people don’t need drugs or to be doped to win, we know they can win, go out there and show how Kenya can do it. Show them we can win clean even if we don’t win we show them we can play clean,” said the President. Moreover he praised the athletes for their hard work, sacrifice and dedication that has set earned them international recognition.
The Olympics team has thrived and sponsors have been key and still are, when it comes to propelling the team forward, and KBL being one of the sponsors, have dedicated Ksh71 million to Team Kenya Rio, part of which has been used in various marketing campaigns to mobilize Kenyans to support the Olympics team. He recognized their contribution as he thanked other sponsors too, ”We also thank the other sponsors-Lotto, Unilever, Manu Chandaria, Safaricom, KD Wire, Governor Mandago and Uasin Gishu County, Governor Cleophas Lagat and Nandi County,” he said.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario reiterated the president’s stance that Kenyan athletes don’t have anything to hide, “We are ready to be tested, we are open we have nothing to hide and so far we have more than 400 tests which have been carried out,” he said in relation to doping claims and transparency.
