Langat, the artist who stole Julius Yegos heart

Langat, the artist who stole Julius Yegos heart

The Chamgei FM Extravaganza held last Sunday in the self-styled City of Champions in Eldoret left an indelible mark on thousands who turned out to celebrate Kenya’s world beaters but for Eldoret National Polytechnic student, Josiah Langat, the occasion will never desert his mind after being elevated to stardom.

Langat was among the throng of humanity who jiggled, wiggled, acclaimed and jostled as the entertainment-packed programme rolled on until he was called up the stage when he was picked out from the crowd for holding up a hand-drawn portrait of Javelin icon, Julius Yego.

The impressed Olympics silver medallist and world champion offered to buy his work of art and give him his fare home and later posted on his social media accounts where he has millions of followers the painting, catapulting the student to instant fame.

 

“He is a really nice guy. He was surprised and kept asking me a lot of questions; why I chose to draw him and how long it took me to do it. He was being very thankful and told me he was touched and although it was a brief chat I really loved it.

“He is a global star and I’m a big fan of him and I even had two portraits of him but the second one had its frame broken in the midst of the pushing and pulling inside the crowd and I was very shy to show it to him in that condition,” the awestruck student told Citizen Digital.

“He’s inspired me a lot to take my artwork seriously. It was my first time to be on the same stage with a big star like him and the fact that he appreciated what I had done both in words and deeds meant a lot to me.

“He took a few minutes off to talk about me and it is then that I realized that art can pay just like other profession would,” the excited second-year ICT student said after coming up-close with Yego, the globally acclaimed YouTubeMan.

He added that he idolized Yego since learning his talent was self-taught, a fact he says has been the driving force behind his move to start commercializing his artwork, with Uasin Gishu Governor, Jackson Mandago, one his other VIP clients.

-Nock Hammered-

The blundering National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) was once again at the centre of condemnation as athletes and politicians took turns to fray them for the Rio 2016 fiasco at the Extravaganza.

 

In a function that was meant to be a celebration of Kenya’s best ever performance at an Olympics where the nation topped the African charts and finished 15th overall with six gold, six silver and a bronze- the shameful Rio scandal resurfaced as those who bore its brunt vent their spleens.

Legislators Wesley Korir (Cherangany) who was the Team Kenya Olympics captain and his Nandi Hills counterpart, Alfred Keter tore into Sports, Arts and Culture Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Hassan Wario and gave him a two-week ultimatum to table a report of the probe he ordered to the scandal.

 

“We are very sorry for what you went through in Brazil and I have always said that Wario needs to quit after what happened. Instead of blame games he should be fixing the mess himself and he must know that he has only two weeks before he tells us what exactly happened,” Keter lashed out.

Korir called athletes present, including Olympic champions, Eliud Kipchoge (men marathon), Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon (women 1500m) and Brimin Kipruto (steeplechase, Beijing 2008) and Rio women steeplechase silver medallist and world champion, Hyvin Kiyeng to make their voices heard in ensuring justice for all.

“Even those who have retired have been through what we’re talking about today so we must come together and stand a common ground on this issue. We must be respected because we work very hard but in the end we’re left to suffer,” the 2012 Boston Marathon winner charged.

On his part, Rio Olympics silver medalist Yego, lamented the little engagement they have had with authorities over the Rio mess, saying that it was high time they sought audience with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, Athletics Kenya (AK) boss, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, called for calm saying that it is important to allow the probe team ample time to carry out their investigation.

Tags:

athletics Julius Yego Rio 2016 Artist Chamgei FM Extravaganza Portrait

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