– From right, Mr Girish N Raval, Cllr Elizabeth Kangethe and guests
Guests were left disappointed after Kenyan athletes failed to turn up at a reception organised in their honour.
Suspicions for the ‘no show’ pointed fingers at the athletes’ agents who may have been offered better ‘hospitality’ elsewhere.
The gathering was told during the afternoon luncheon that the athletes had apparently been “blocked” by the London Marathon Trust. Intervention by Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s sports minister, made no difference.
The reception was organised by the Kenya High Commission in partnership with The Eastern Africa Association (EAA), hosted by Kamal Shah of law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP at their office in Finsbury Circus, London.
CEO of EAA, John C Small said he had spent weeks organising this event. One guest, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had called in sick to be at this event. The event featured lunch, drinks, networking and popular Kenyan songs, including ‘Malaika’ by Samuel Nyando and Lydia Tett Olet, Chief Editor of the Karibu Magazine.
Guests included: Cllr Elizabeth Kangethe, a former headmistress and teacher of 25 years, as well as an ex-Mayor, Girish Raval, Celeste M Shirvani and Mary Owens, Chair and Executive Director, respectively, of Nyumbani UK, a charity, Sandy Wade OBE JP of Africa Advisory Partners, Macharia Gakuru, Director of Kidney Research Kenya, longstanding supporter octogenarian Chandrakant Devani, Eva Mbiru, Simatei Jackson from Transport for London, Sarah Collins, founder of Wonder Bag and Kennedy Ruto. Also present were Kenya’s High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Manoah Esipisu and his wife.
Kenyan athletes are arguably the best in the world. Representing the nation, Eliud Kipchoge ran the second fastest marathon in history to win the London Marathon for a fourth time as Britain’s Mo Farah finished fifth.
For those interested, the annual Kenya & Friends in the Park will this year take place at Barking Park in London on 27th & 28th July. To find out more visit www.kenyainthepark.com
