President Uhuru leads salutations to Cheruiyot, Rudisha

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy President William Ruto led Kenyans in congratulating Vivian Cheruiyot for her inspirational and historic performance during the women 10000m finals at the 2016 Rio Olympics Games on Friday.

Cheruiyot, the four-time World Champion, bagged Kenya’s first medal and set the national record of 29:39.45 in a performance only bettered the astonishing world record from Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana of 29:17.45.

It was the third fastest time in history of the event that would have won the event at every other Olympics bar Rio 2016.

In his message on micro blogging site Twitter, President Kenyatta congratulated Cheruiyot for her breathtaking performance as well as the men 800m squad by Olympics titleholder David Rudisha, former World Junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich who breezed to Saturday’s semis.

“Congratulations to Vivian Cheruiyot for her Olympics Silver win and the other athletes who qualified to go to the next rounds,” the Head of State tweeted.

His deputy who is representing the people of Kenya and got the opportunity to witness the historic finals at the iconic Olympic Stadium in Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil echoed the President.

“Congratulations to Vivian Cheruiyot for winning Kenya’s first medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics,” he added on his official handle.

The Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Aden Duale, former Imenti Central legislator and renowned lawyer, Gitobu Imanyara and industrialist Chris Kirubi were also not left behind in the wave of goodwill messages that flooded Twitter in the aftermath of the opening session of track and field action.

“Congratulations Vivian Cheruiyot for earning Kenya first medal after finishing second in the 10,000m women final #TeamKenya #Rio2016,” the Dujis MP posted.

“Our first medal in Rio, a silver. Well-done Vivian,” Gitobu offered.

“#Rio2016 May our Kenyan athletes Alice Aprot Nawowuna, Betsy Saina and Vivian Cheruiyot make us proud in the women’s 10,000m race,” Kirubi tweeted pre-race before offering his commiseration afterwards when Ayana powered to the glory .

African Champion Aprot efforts as she finished just outside the medals having taken the front-running duties until half way were also hailed on Twitter.

“Don’t care what y’all saying but Alice Aprot of Kenya is stil on the list of my heroes. That lady can run & I’m counting on her great future,” ‏@PulengSelebeli declared.

“Alice Aprot may not have won a medal but she has definitely made her mark. Ayana is a beast! Saw the new record set,” another user going by Tugen Girl of the handle ‏@JKwonyike expressed.

“Alice aprot 2020 is just around the corner shine 2020,” another wrote.