Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr.Fred Matiang’i has taken it up to himself to rescue former international athlete Nyandika Maiyoro who is currently admitted at Christa Marianne Hospital.
The pioneer Olympian was hospitalised after he was diagnosed with tuberculosis two weeks ago.
Doctors at the hospital had scheduled major tests on Thursday last week but later postponed the scans as the family could not raise the required Ksh80,000.
On Monday, Matiang’i contacted the family through an intermediary and pledged to pay his hospital bills.
“The Cabinet Secretary talked to us through phone and promised to cater for the bills and all costs that we will incur while in hospital,”
On Friday, Maiyoro appealed to the president to save his allegedly stolen land. According to local papers, two locals allegedly grabbed his land in 2012 but even after reporting the case to the police, he did not get his land back.
“I urge President Uhuru Kenyatta, opposition leader Raila Odinga and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to ensure my family gets justice,” the athlete appealed.
The 88-year-old made history during the 1953 Ocean Games in Madagascar by starting his race a minute after the rest of the pack and remarkably beating everyone.
Maiyoro also holds the record of the first Kenyan to compete in an Olympic final when he qualified for the 5,000m final in Melbourne, Australia in 1956, where he was also
Kenyans took up to Social Media in arms to support his appeal:
@athletics_kenya Legendary Kenyan athlete Nyandika Maiyoro, 88, is appealing for help to have his "stolen" land returned even as he battles tuberculosis in hospital. @RobertAlai @ItsBravin @bekimwamburi @bonifacemwangi @CarolRadull @FredMatiangi @fredomachoka #NyantikaMayioro
— simba N Joseph (@SimbaJoseph) February 15, 2019
Nyandika Maiyoro, one of Kenya’s first Olympiads, made history when he started a race 30 seconds later but ran it and won gold at the 1956 Olympics. @KibetBenard_ @Dmarigiri_ @MainaNjoki019 @RoadAlertsKE @Jodhis_ @MugamboWaAfrica #NyantikaMayioro
— simba N Joseph (@SimbaJoseph) February 15, 2019