NAIROBI, Kenya, February 17 – World Half marathon champion Lornah Kiplagat has urged her fellow athletes to assist Kenyans currently being affected by the famine that has put ten million people at risk of starvation.Kiplagat who on Tuesday donated Sh100,000 to the ‘Mutui Museo’ (Good Neighbour) initiative said that athletes should replicate the way they came together after the post election violence and contribute to the famine relief kitty.
“I remember when our country was going through the skirmishes, our athletes took initiative and started peace runs,” said the Kiplagat who has run for the Netherlands since 2003.
“I’m calling on them now because this is an urgent matter we have to take head on though donations to help our people who are dying,” she added.
Kiplagat believes Kenyans should adopt a proactive approach to contain the famine situation which has already been declared a national disaster.
“We can’t wait, we can’t keep on planning and it’s just a matter of doing it now. People are dying everyday so we shouldn’t wait,” said the 35 year old.
Kiplagat also said that she is in discussions with a Dutch investment group to fund the drilling of boreholes in areas worst affected by the drought.
Kiplagat who was accompanied by her husband and manager Peter Langerhorst handed over the donation to the initiative’s Chairman Sam Muumbi who thanked the former World Cross Country champion.
“We have no reason in this nation to have people starving because we are endowed with all kinds of resources stretching from the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria so we shouldn’t be struggling with food,” said Muumbi.
After the Lagos marathon, Kiplagat is expected to fly to South America for a 10 kilometre race in Puerto Rico on March 1.