Obiris Egesa FM-sponsored party brings Kisii to standstill

Business came to a standstill in Kisii town and its environs on Sunday as a colourful thanksgiving and home coming ceremony organised by Egesa FM in honour of Olympics silver medallist, Hellen Obiri Onsando, brought out tens of thousands for a party like no other.

The Royal Media Services owned station with wide following in the area added its stardust to the occasion with its top guns who entertained the revellers alongside renowned artists from the region as the town celebrated their heroine who followed compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot across the line for the Kenyan 1-2 during the Rio 2016 Olympics women 5000m final last month.

Kisii County Governor, James Ongwae, led a huge convoy to receive the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships 3000m champion who was accompanied by her husband, Tom Nyaundi and her parents.

Obiri had earlier paid a courtesy the Governor’s where they held a lengthy discussion on matters of athletics within the region.

The function attracted a massive gathering with political and religious leaders as well as Obiri’s fellow sportspersons praising the achievements of the 26 year-old mother of one in their glowing speeches.

-Massive gathering-

Among the veteran athletes who attended the colourful event is former Olympics champion Charles Asati who said time had come when those in the region needed to know that talent can pay handsomely.

“All of us have different gifts but people are now getting rich by making good use of their talent. Obiri is a star and we need to produce more like her. It’s high time we realized that our children have great potential and only need a little nurturing,” Asati one of the 1972 gold winning men 4x400m relay quartet emphasised.

There was no room for political speeches with emphasis placed on appreciating the female distance running icon from the Banana County.

Veteran Radio Citizen Broadcaster and Master of Ceremonies; Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka stressed the importance of staying off politics.

“We’re here to celebrate Helen’s good work so to whomever that wants to camouflage in this event and pass political messages please this is not the arena,” he warned to roaring applause.

Ongwae donated two bulls to be slaughtered in Obiri’s in a feast while also rewarding her Ksh100,000.

He promised his government was planning to honour her in an even bigger way as a way of recognizing her efforts in representing the region.

“We are very proud that our own daughter can put our name on the global map. This is a great job done by Obiri and she has been the best ambassador of this region. We are proud as a county and because of that I’m going to personally table a bill in the county assembly to have a training camp opened here in Bobasi in her honour.

“It is going to be big and up to standard. We want to make sure that our talents are nurtured as early as they are noticed and I believe this will be the first way to ensure that dream is realized,” the County chief announced.

Other guests who were in attendance included nominated Senator Janet On’gera and Kisii Women Representative Mary Otara among others.