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Tag: Kenya

  • World Athletics U-20 Championships: Uko wins Nigeria’s second gold from 400m

    World Athletics U-20 Championships: Uko wins Nigeria’s second gold from 400m

    Imaobong Uko on Saturday won Nigeria’s second gold medal at the ongoing World U-20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya from the women’s 400 metres with a time of 51.55 seconds.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uko, running in lane six, came from behind to beat Poland’s Kornelia Lesiewicz to second position (51.97).

    Sylvia Chelangat of Kenya finished third in a time of 52.23.

    Uko’s win is also her new personal career best.

    An elated Uko after the race said the feat will definitely signal the beginning of greater heights in her career.

    “It was very tough because of the weather. But this is just the beginning of great things in my career.

    “My coach and I really worked hard on this, I’m so excited, and it will only get better.

    “Coming here to make so much impact makes me feel so happy. It means more hard work, but the future is so bright.” she said.

    NAN reports that Uko was part of the mixed relay team which earlier won a gold medal for Nigeria on the opening day of competition at the championships.

    The competition which begun on Wednesday will end on Sunday.

  • World Athletics U20 Championships: Nigeria’s Nnamdi wins bronze in men’s javelin

    World Athletics U20 Championships: Nigeria’s Nnamdi wins bronze in men’s javelin

    Nigeria’s Chinecherem Nnamdi on Friday won a bronze medal in men’s javelin at the ongoing World Athletics U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that victory for Nnamdi meant he clinched Nigeria’s second medal at the championship.

    Thus, he became the first Nigerian athlete in 19 years to win a field event medal at the championships since Esther Aghatise won a medal in long jump in 2002.

    Nnamdi, who just got signed by Baylor University in the U. S. recently, put up a fine series of throw to place third with a third round best throw of 74.48m.

    In the women’s long jump, Ruth Agadama qualified for the final of the event holding on Sunday, having jumped a mark of 6.06m.

    Agadama hit the 6m mark on her last attempt which got her through to the final.

    Esther Osisike finished 11th with a first round attempt of 44.68m.

    It was not the kind of outing she would have wanted, as she fouled on the second attempt and then threw 44.17m on her third attempt, which was to not enough to get her to the final rounds.

    The World Athletics U-20 Championships which got underway on Wednesday is expected to end on Sunday.

  • World Athletics Under-20 Championships: Onwuzurike, Ofili in 200m finals

    World Athletics Under-20 Championships: Onwuzurike, Ofili in 200m finals

    Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike on Friday qualified for Saturday’s final of the men’s 200 metres event at the ongoing World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onwuzurike ran in at 20.13 seconds to win heat 2 of the event, ahead of South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile who finished second with 20.45.

    Blessing Afrifah of Israel was third with 20.47, and the three of them advanced to join five others from heats 1 and 3 for the final.

    Nigeria’s Adekalu Fakorede was however not as successful after finishing sixth in heat 1, following a time of 20.87 which was even his personal best.

    NAN reports that Onwuzurike, who now has the fastest qualification time among the eight finalists, had clocked a personal best 20.47 to win the first round’s heat 1.

    Fakorede had finished fifth then in heat 4 with 21.14 to squeeze into the semi-finals as one of the fastest losers.

    In the women’s 200m semi-finals, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was impressive when winning heat 3 in 22.37 to advance to Saturday’s final.

    She had won heat 5 of the first round in 22.74 to advance to the semi-finals earlier in the day.

    Teammate Anita Taviore could not go beyond the semi-finals on her part, after finishing last in heat 2 with 24.37.

    Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi was quickest in the semi-finals, taking victory with 22.19 to qualify for the final, just 17 hours after winning the silver medal in the 100m.

    “I felt a bit fatigued and I am a little surprised I ran that good,” she said. “Yesterday’s success is now passed, and I am gearing up for the remaining race.”

    Her compatriot Christine Mboma, the Olympic silver medallist, also advanced to the final with 22.41.

    The Namibian duo, as well as Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston, will however no doubt be among those to challenge for medals with Ofili in the final.

    Competition at the championships which officially began in Nairobi on Tuesday is expected to end on Sunday.

  • Kipchoge third runner ever to win back-to-back Olympic marathon gold

    Kipchoge third runner ever to win back-to-back Olympic marathon gold

    Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge has become the third runner ever to win back-to-back Olympic marathon gold medal.

    This was due to a dominant performance in challenging conditions on the last day of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games.

    On another hot and humid day in Sapporo, the Rio champion and world record-holder triumphed in two hours eight minutes 38 seconds.

    He crossed the line 80 seconds before Dutch Abdi Nageeye, the largest winning margin at an Olympics since 1972.

    Belgian Bashir Abdi won the bronze medal as he came in two seconds later, beating Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono to the finish line by two seconds in an exciting final sprint.

    The 36-year-old Kipchoge, widely considered the greatest marathoner of all-time, made a decisive move after the 30-kilometre mark.

    In the process, he broke up the leading pack and quickly created an unassailable gap.

    Within five kilometres, he was 27 seconds ahead of the chasing group.

    Kipchoge then went on to become the third runner ever to win back-to-back Olympic marathon titles.

    It was a feat only achieved by 1960 and 1964 champion Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia and East German Waldemar Cierpinski, who won in 1976 and 1980.

    Among his achievements, the Kenyan pieced together an unparalleled 10-race unbeaten streak over a five-year stretch which ended with an eighth place at the 2020 London Marathon.

    Though the race started at 7 a.m (2200 GMT Saturday), temperatures were already 26 degrees Celsius, with a humidity of 80 per cent.

    Luckily for the runners it was a cloudier day than Saturday and temperatures did not raise as quickly as during the women’s race a day earlier.

    That race was brought forward an hour in order to protect the athletes from the heat.

    The heat and humidity however did make scores of victims, with some 30 runners —— over one quarter of the starters —— not finishing the race.

    These included Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata, who won the 2020 London Marathon which ended Kipchoge’s streak.

    Last to cross the finish line was Ivan Zarco Alvarez of Honduras, who was cheered on by spectators along the route as he finished in 2:44:36.

    Marathons and the race walks at the Games were taken out of Tokyo to Sapporo, some 700 kilometres north of the Japanese capital.

    This was in order to avoid searing temperatures —- but athletes in Friday’s race walks still competed in heat of over 30 degree Celsius.

  • UK parliament to debate Kenya’s role in Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, repatriation today

    UK parliament to debate Kenya’s role in Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, repatriation today

    The United Kingdom Parliament is set to commence a debate on the repatriation of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria today (Wednesday).

    The British government had clarified that Nnamdi Kanu, who was travelling with a British passport, was not arrested within its shores.

    IPOB had accused the Buhari regime of abducting its leader in an East African country, a claim confirmed by Kanu’s attorney, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who accused Kenya’s special police force of arresting and torturing him before he was handed over to the Nigerian government.

    Meanwhile, Kenya High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, had refuted claims that Kanu was arrested in the country.

    But the UK Parliament, in a parliamentary schedule posted on its website said it will set aside a debate on Wednesday, July 7, to discuss the British government’s assessment of Kenya’s role in Mr. Kanu’s arrest.

    According to the document, Lord Alton of Liverpool will be raising the issue at the House of Lords and will query the government on the separatist leader’s transfer to Nigeria.

    “Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the alleged role of the government of Kenya in the detention and alleged mistreatment of Nigerian activist Nnamdi Kanu, (2) the circumstances surrounding the transfer of Mr. Kanu to Nigeria against his will, and (3) of any assistance being provided to him by the High Commission in Abuja. HL1665,” the document read.

  • Kenyan interior ministry says unaware of Nnamdi Kanu arrest

    Kenyan interior ministry says unaware of Nnamdi Kanu arrest

    Kenya’s interior ministry said it was unaware that Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader was arrested in the country as Nigerian government also refused to confirm reports linking Kenya.

    Reuters said a spokeswoman for the Kenyan interior ministry said it was not aware of the matter.

    Although the country’s foreign affairs ministry in Nairobi snubbed media enquiries, Kenya’s The Star newspaper has further shed light on Kanu’s arrest in the country.

    According to the paper, Kanu had apparently arrived in Kenya when he was stopped at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on June 26.

    “He was handed over to Nigeria the following day.

    “He was headed for his house in Kileleshwa when authorities stopped him for questioning. He was settled in Nairobi but was coming from Germany via Israel.

    “We will hold Kenyan and Nigerian government responsible for whatever may happen to my brother. We don’t know why they did this to him. It is an incident of extraordinary rendition,” said Kingsley Kanu.

    Other officials said they knew Kanu was to stay in Nairobi for sometime when he was detained over an immigration issue.

    “He had arrived in Kenya using a British passport ,” said the senior security official who asked not to be named.

    He was later flown to Nigeria the following day. This was after the Nigerian officials in Nairobi confirmed he was wanted back home.

    On Thursday, Information minister Lai Mohammed declined to disclose any details on the re-arrest of Kanu, despite the varied speculation over which country was involved in his capture, after he went on the run four years ago.

    Kanu had skipped bail and disappeared while facing trial in 2017.

    He was believed to be living in London until he was brought to court in handcuffs in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “The re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations,” Information Minister Lai Mohammed told reporters.

    “We continue to respect and honour the obligations,” he said, giving no further details.

    The circumstances of Kanu’s arrest have been the subject of intense media speculation in Nigeria, where reports have named the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Czech Republic and Israel as countries where Kanu may have been in recent times.

    The UK said Kanu was not arrested in the country and added it would take up his matter with the authorities. Kanu is also a UK citizen.

    IPOB said Kanu was “abducted” and it would give details later.

    Lai Mohammed said Kanu was facing 11 counts including treason, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.

    His case is due to resume in court on July 26-27.

  • Kenyan Naibei, Ethiopia’s Dinke are winners of 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

    Kenyan Naibei, Ethiopia’s Dinke are winners of 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

    Kenya’s Emmanuel Naibei and Meseret Dinke have emerged as the winners of the 2021edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    Nabei on Saturday returned a time of 2hrs 15 mins 01 sec (official) to claim the top prize which is 30,000 USD.

    While the winning time falls short of the course record of 2:10:23 set last year, it is the second-fastest ever in the history of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    A runner-up at the 2019 Guangzhou Marathon where he set his current Personal Best time of2:08:27, the ageing Naibei is still waxing strong.

    Nabei was also among those with podium finishes at the CFLD Beijing Marathon, Beijing where he finished third. Now in its sixth edition, this is the fourth time a Kenyan is emerging as the winner of the Men’s category of the 42km Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    The Ethiopian duo of Daresa Geleta and Demiso Legese finished in the second and third positions respectively in the men’s category of Saturday’s race.

    In the women’s category, Meseret Dinke reclaimed her title and she did it in style with a new course record after returning a time of 2:28:51Dinke won the 2019 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon but was dethroned last year by Kenyan Sharon Cherop who set the former course record of 2.31.40.

    Celestine Jepchirchir from Kenya and lDesta Nigist Mulune from Ethiopia finished second and third respectively in the women’s category.

    Just like it is in the Men’s category, this is the fourth time an Ethiopian will be winning the female race.

    Istifanus Peter Mahan was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line at this year’s race thus winning the N1m prize money in that category.300 elite runners participated in the race due to strict COVID-19 protocols.

  • Kenyan, Ethiopian win 2021 Lagos City Marathon

    Kenyan, Ethiopian win 2021 Lagos City Marathon

    Emmanuel Naibei and Meseret Dinke on Saturday emerged winners of the 2021 edition of the Lagos City Marathon race taking away a cash prize of $30,000 each.

    Naibei, who is from Kenya returned a time of 2:11:37 to claim the top prize of $30,000 while Meseret Dinke, Ethiopian, won the female category also winning a cash prize of $30,000.

    Daresa Geleta of Ethiopia took second place in the men category while Demiso Legese also from Ethiopia took third place.

    In the second place, women category Celestine Chepchirchir (Kenya) won, taking a cash reward of $20,000 while Desta Muluneh (Ethiopia) took third place with a cash prize of $15,000.

    Just like it is in the Men’s category, this is the fourth time an Ethiopian will be winning the female race.

    Plateau-born, Istifanus Peter Mahan was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line.

  • Ex-U.S. President, Barrack Obama loses grandmother ‘Mama Sarah’ in Kenya

    Ex-U.S. President, Barrack Obama loses grandmother ‘Mama Sarah’ in Kenya

    Former US President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah Obama passed away Monday while receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment at a hospital in Kisumu, Western Kenya, authorities said in a statement.

    She was 99.

    “The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation. We’ve lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values,” said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in a statement.
    ‘Mama Sarah’ as she was popularly known, was the third wife of the former US leader’s paternal grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama and helped raise the former president’s father, Barack Sr.
    President Obama called her ‘Granny,’ in his book ‘Dreams from My Father,’ and she rose to national prominence in 2006 after the then US senator visited Kenya.
    Obama was received by Mama Sarah in subsequent visits in 2015, when he became the first US president to visit Kenya, and in 2018 after he left office.
    She worked in the past as a cook for British missionaries in Kenya and didn’t own a TV the first time her step-grandson was elected
    The former US president has commiserated with his Kenyan kinsmen over the loss of the matriarch, members of the Obama family said, according to local media reports.
    The late nonagenarian was a devout Muslim, and will be remembered for her philanthropy.
    President Obama’s half sister Auma paid tribute to their grandmother on Twitter.
    “Just lost the most important person in my life – my gran, Mama Sarah,” she wrote. “My heart is broken! But as I write, not able to stop the tears from pouring, I know I was blessed to have her for so long! My inspiration, my rock, my comfort zone, my safe space. Rest in peace Dani! “
    Obama was also renowned for her strides in helping indigent children acquire education in Kenyan communities through her foundation.
    In 2014, she also received the United Nations’ Pioneer Award for her foundation’s efforts in education.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that President Obama lost his American maternal grandmother, Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham, to cancer in 2008. She was aged 86.
  • 2021 World Happiness index say Nigerians happier than Ghanaians, S/Africans, Kenyans, others

    2021 World Happiness index say Nigerians happier than Ghanaians, S/Africans, Kenyans, others

    Nigeria has been ranked in 59th position in the latest happiness index released on Friday, putting the country above countries like Kenya, Russia, Georgia, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and others.

    According to the ranking index of the report released on Friday afternoon, Finland was ranked the world’s happiest country while Zimbabwe was ranked last in the ranking comprising 95 countries.

    According to the report published on the organisation’s website www.worldhapiness.report, Nigerians are even happier than some countries in Europe including Russia which was ranked 60th, Georgia, ranked 73rd, and North Macedonia ranked 75th.

    Only Mauritius which was ranked 44th was ahead of Nigeria among African countries in terms of happiness. Other African countries on the rank include Ghana, 65th; Ivory Coast, 70th; Cameroon, 71st; South Africa, 76th; Zambia, 79th; Morocco, 80th; Tunisia, 82nd; Uganda, 83rd; Ethiopia, 85th; Kenya, 86th; Egypt, 87th, Namibia, 88th.

    Two African countries occupied the last positions of the ladder. While Tanzania occupied the 94th position, Zimbabwe occupied the 95th position as the least happiest country in the world.

    The first six positions of the happiest nations in the world were occupied by those called Nordic countries, indicating that there is something unique that always makes the citizens of those countries happy all the time.

    While Finland retained its first position as the world’s happiest country, Iceland was ranked second, Denmark came third, Switzerland came fourth, Netherlands came fifth and Sweden came sixth.

    In the list, United States, Britain, Canada, Belgium and France did not do well in the ranking. While the United States came 14th, Canada was 15th, Belgium was 17th, the United Kingdom was in the 18th position and France was 20th on the ranking.