News that former international sensation McDonald Mariga will contest for the vacant Kibra Parliamentary seat sent shockwaves around the country with Kenyans having divided opinion. The former footballer is however not the first sportsman to contest for a political seat in the country.
Most of them failed but there have been a few successes over the years. Below, we look at former sportsmen who vied and won political seats in Kenya.
Wesley Korir
The Marathoner was elected as the member of parliament for Cherengani constituency where he served from March 2013 to August 2017. Korir won the Boston Marathon with a time of 2 hours 12 minutes 40 seconds in April 2012.
He also became, the first athlete to win back to back Los Angeles Marathon title in 8 years when he clinched the title in 200 and 2010. Korir served in parliament for only one term.
Dan Wanyama
He is the current Member of Parliament for Webuye West constituency. A volleyballer in his youth, Wanyama was the overall Kenyan captain in the 1 All Africa Games.
His love for sports is still present and is a member of the Parliamentary Service Committee on sports. Having played volleyball for over 10 years, one quickly feels the expereince as his grip is so tight you could shed a tear.
Elijah Lagat
Yet another marathoner who became a member of parliament. Lagat is famous for winning the Boston Marathon in 2002 in what was the closest finish in the race’s history.
He edged out Ethiopia’s Gezahgne Abera and fellow Kenyan Moses Tanui to ensure that Kenya had won the event for 10 consecutive years, a record that still stands today.
Lagat first vied for the Emgwen parliamentary seat in 2002 where he lost on a KANU ticket. He vied again in 2007 and won via an ODM ticket.