?? Kipchoge Weeps Talking Kiptum's Death, Ruto's Latest Windfall

By Derrick Kubasu

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A Hearty One

Nearly two months after the tragic death of up-and-rising athlete Kelvin Kiptum, Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge is opening up about a massive wave of harassment he endured and spilled some tears while at it.

In an interview with BBC that dropped on Tuesday, the athlete got candid about online harassment to himself, his family, and the friends he lost.

The question was tough when discussing his phone call to his mother amid a barrage of trolls. (He bowed his head and cried mid-interview).

Attacks on Self: The athlete, who holds two gold medals, recalled threats to his training camp with trolls threatening to burn it to the ground alongside his investments.

• "I was shocked that people on social media platforms are saying 'Eliud is involved in the death of this boy’. That was my worst news ever in my life," he recalled.

Attacks on Family: The 39-year-old marathoner noted that his family was forced to cut down on his children's activities including the introduction of supervised pick up and drop off at school.

• "I got really scared of my children going to school and coming back. Sometimes they bike around, but we had to stop them because you never know what will happen. We started to drop them off and pick them up in the evening," he stated.
• He noted that the harassment was so intense that it reached his mother.
• "My worst moment was when I tried to call my mum. She told me 'Just take care' and 'A lot has been going on'. Where I come from is a really local area. And with the age of my mum, I really realised that social media can go everywhere."

Friends Flee: In the interview, Kipchoge reveals that he lost 90 per cent of his friends including some of his training mates.

• "It was really painful for me to learn even from my own people, my training mates, those who I have contact with, and the bad words are coming from them. I was really down to see that."

Losing Race: The Marathoner, at the time, had already been drafted to participate in the Tokyo Marathon in March and believes the attacks cost him the lead. He finished in 10th position.

Catch Up Quick: Kiptum, an upcoming athlete mostly compared to Kipchoge, passed away in a road crash in mid-February while in the company of his coach, Rwandese Gervais Hakizimana, along Eldoret-Kaptagat Road.

• The crash, which happened after his car lost control, veered off the road and landed into a ditch, occurred months after winning the Chicago Marathon at a time of 2:00:35. He was gearing up for another marathon he believed would make him the first human to run a sub-2-hour official marathon.
• A postmortem report released a week later showed that he died from severe head injuries that included 'severe skull fractures which were mainly at the base of the spine.'

Bouncing Back: A week ago, Athletics Kenya named Kipchoge among a star-studded team participating in the upcoming Paris 2024 marathon. The team includes Peres Jepchirchir, Benson Kipruto, Alexander Munyao, and Timothy Kiplagat.

• "I will try to win a gold medal, not run faster. The target is to win gold, make history," He revealed in an interview with EFE, a Spanish news agency.

Yet Another Top-Up

Since strengthening Kenya's rapport internationally, every morning at the House on the Hill is a chance to close a deal.

On Tuesday, President William Ruto announced that he had received a Ksh46.5 billion boost from the World Bank to finance the second phase of the Kenya Urban Support Programme(KUSP).

In an address to leaders among them governors and cabinet secretaries, Ruto revealed that the project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of urban areas by improving infrastructure.

The money is to expand the road network, improve sanitation, and widen electricity distribution to attract residents out of Nairobi City.

What Ruto is Saying: “We all agree that our urban development strategy requires sustainable financing, but this has not been forthcoming at the levels expected. It is crucial therefore that the World Bank’s Sh 46.5 billion funding for the Second Kenya Urban Support Programme is utilized responsibly because this money is a loan that we must pay."

The expansion drive is targeting 220 cities out of the 300 urban areas.

"The deliberate scaling up of resources in urban development will ensure inclusive and quality infrastructure to accelerate the realisation of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda," he added.

Catch Up Quick: Last week, the United Kingdon Government announced that it was providing Ksh140 million to Kenya to support flood relief efforts.

In April 2024, the World Bank approved Ksh160 billion of budget financing for Kenya.

In January 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a Ksh125 billion loan for Kenya under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programs.

Jobs Corner

Welcome to Jobs Corner on Tuesday where we will track all the government vacancies you are looking for and how to land them.

First, the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC)is looking to fill 24 positions from office assistants to ICT officers.

"Interested and qualified candidates should apply and attach copies of certificates and detailed Curriculum Vitae indicating qualifications, work experience if any and names of at least three referees with their telephone contacts and email to the address indicated below or through [email protected] so as to be received on or before May 21, 2024."

Detailed job specifications and requirements can be accessed at kenttec.go.ke.

Second; the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is looking to fill 32 positions on permanent and pensionable terms.

Applicants should visit the NEMA site for detailed descriptions.

"Candidates should also download, complete, and submit the Bio-data Job Application Form which is available online from our website (www.nema.go.ke) >>Quick Links>>Downloads."

Here are five other stories to keep tabs on today;

1. King Charles sends a message of comfort and sympathy to President William Ruto amid the ongoing floods.
2. The government revokes over 700 licenses from dubious operators promising lucrative opportunities abroad.
3. President William Ruto allocates Ksh100 million towards the completion of the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Development Project initiated by Uhuru Kenyatta.
4. Kenya to host 75 foreign tycoons and businessmen as part of the upcoming International Flower Trade Exhibition (IFTEX).
5. The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) cautions Kenyans against buying life insurance from a foreign company illegally operating in Kenya.

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This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.

Washington Mito contributed to the content.

Graphics prepared by Kiruti I.