NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 20 – Angolan President João Lourenço, who was anticipated to be the chief guest at Kenya’s Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Kericho Green Stadium, was notably absent from the event.
Despite President William Ruto publicly acknowledging his presence in the country, President Lourenço did not attend the celebrations.
Representing President Lourenço at the event was Angola’s Foreign Affairs Minister António Tete, who used the occasion to emphasize the significance of Angola’s invitation to Kenya’s 60th Mashujaa Day, characterizing it as the beginning of a new era in their relations.
The absence of the Angolan President has sparked curiosity about the reasons for his non-appearance and his current whereabouts.
President Ruto, however, clarified that President Lourenço’s official state visit to Kenya would commence Saturday.
“The president of Angola is in the country as we talk, and he will be having a state visit tomorrow,” during his opening remarks at the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
President João Lourenço, accompanied by First Lady Ana Dias Lourenço, had arrived in Kenya on Thursday and was received by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The Mashujaa Day celebrations, held at the newly renamed Wilson Kiprugut Stadium in honor of Kenya’s first Olympic medalist, marked the 60th anniversary of the event. Kericho Green Stadium was officially renamed Wilson Kiprugut Stadium during the festivities.
“Allow me to celebrate Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal, by renaming the Kericho Green Stadium after him,” Ruto said.
Wilson Kiprugut’s sporting accomplishments are a source of immense pride for Kenya. He secured a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, a feat he followed with a silver medal in the same event at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Kiprugut’s journey in athletics began during his school days at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School in the 1950s. He was identified for his talent during the 1958 East African Championships and subsequently scouted by the Kenyan Army.
In addition to his athletic feats, Kiprugut participated in the 1962 Commonwealth Games held in Perth, Australia. Upon retiring from competitive athletics in 1969, he continued his contribution to sports as a coach and fitness instructor within the Kenyan army.
Wilson Kiprugut was honored as the 2010 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year and received the ‘Hall of Fame’ award. His passing in 2022 at the age of 84 was a significant loss for his home county of Kericho.
During the Mashujaa Day celebrations, President Ruto also celebrated the legacy of Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon, a remarkable entrepreneur exemplifying the principles of bottom-up success. President Ruto recounted Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon’s inspirational journey from a class 3 dropout to establishing the Kipchimchim Group of Companies, a business conglomerate spanning various industries and providing employment to thousands of Kenyans.
Ruto acknowledged the significant contributions of Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon and offered his farewell, noting that before his untimely passing, Mzee was engaged with the West Valley Sugar Company, which recently commenced milling operations.
