AK decries slow pace of plans to host AAC

By Mutwiri Mutuota

Are the 17th African Championships in Athletics that were re-launched with pomp by the country’s Premier Raila Odinga just under a fortnight ago in trouble yet again?

The impression created by the event’s top Local Organising Committee (LOC) officials, chairman Isaiah Kiplagat and CEO, David Okeyo, appears to herald yet another false start for the continental championships set for July 28 to August 1 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

At a press briefing yesterday, Kiplagat and Okeyo admitted there were ‘bottlenecks’ in the organisation of Nairobi 2010 and they would ‘not carry the cross’ alone.

"We are too slow and we have bottlenecks. We have a meeting (entire LOC) Wednesday and we do not want to pre-empt what shall be discussed in that meeting. We will let you know what happens," Okeyo begun.

Kiplagat without mincing words then stated: "We are extremely slow since we want the input of everyone in the LOC.

"There is no need of telling people that we are doing so well but there is nothing to show for it. It is better to release (the truth) so that the people of Kenya can know what is happening.

"When everything fails, it is we who shall carry the cross but in this case, we shall not carry the cross alone."

Three months ago, Kiplagat, the Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman had given the Government a December ultimatum to financially guarantee the Sh300m needed to host the event or they would petition the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) to withdraw Kenya from the event.

At the time, the Government had not released the Sh30m needed to set up the LOC secretariat for the event that was initially set for late March before being postponed by three months when it became apparent Kenya could not host the championships.

At the event’s re-launch two Thursdays ago, Prime Minister Raila seemed to put the myriad problems that had beset the event behind saying, "The journey to hosting the Africa Senior Athletics Championship has just begun. It will be no simple task and it requires full commitment."