Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


0

Runners Are Targets Amid Kenya Strife

Athletes meet over accusations of stirring up violence

Share

(Newser) – Some of the world's best runners have been receiving death threats as conflict continues in their native Kenya, where rumors circulate that the athletes were involved in stirring up ethnic killings. Top Kenyan runners are meeting in the town of Eldoret to discuss their response, the AP reports. "I am scared. We are scared," says a Kenyan athletics official.

William Mutwol—a bronze medalist in the steeplechase at the 1992 Olympics—received a threatening text message reading, "We want your head" during this week's meeting. And former Olympic runner Lucas Sang was hacked to death Dec. 31, one of 700 to die in post-election violence. The runners have released a statement saying they don't know who is behind the rumors.

Former athlete Toby Tanser of Sweden, who lives in New York and was representing the New York Road Runners Board of Directors, center-right, and Kenyan long-distance runner Robert Cheruiyot, second from left, attend the funeral of Kenyan Olympic athlete Lucas Kipkemboi Sang, who was killed in post-election violence, in the...
Former athlete Toby Tanser of Sweden, who lives in New York and was representing the New York Road Runners Board of Directors, center-right, and Kenyan long-distance runner Robert Cheruiyot, second from...   (Associated Press)
A Kenyan runner stretches after returning to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent days, the mayhem has left indelible scars across Kenya which has consistently produced...
A Kenyan runner stretches after returning to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence...   (Associated Press)
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, center, shakes hands with opposition leader Raila Odinga, right, as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, left, looks on, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya's president and its main opposition leader met Thursday for the first time since their dispute over a presidential vote...
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, center, shakes hands with opposition leader Raila Odinga, right, as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, left, looks on, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya's...   (Associated Press)
A Kenyan runner stretches against a fencepost after returning to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent days, the mayhem has left indelible scars across Kenya which...
A Kenyan runner stretches against a fencepost after returning to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election...   (Associated Press)
Kenyan runners return to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent days, the mayhem has left indelible scars across Kenya which has consistently produced some of the...
Kenyan runners return to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent...   (Associated Press)
Kenyan runners return to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent days, the mayhem has left indelible scars across Kenya which has consistently produced some of the...
Kenyan runners return to training in the early morning in the high-altitude - 2,400-meter (8,000-feet) - town of Iten in Kenya Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Though post-election violence has eased in recent...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

125 Stories


 First US Citizen 
 Sues Feds 
 for Rendition 

NJ man alleges interrogation, coercion in Somalia, Egypt

Nov 11, 09 9:06 AM CST
(Newser) - A New Jersey man yesterday became the first US citizen to sue the federal government for "rendition," the extrajudicial transfer of terrorism suspects between countries. Arrested in Kenya in 2007, Amir Meshal was secretly flown to Somalia, then to Ethiopia, where he claims US agents repeatedly threatened him... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Somalia • Kenya • rendition • terrorism • FBI • ACLU • Egypt • extraordinary rendition • Amir Meshal

Famed Man-Eating Lions Not That Hungry: Scientists

Kenyan duo credited with 135 kills ate just 35 humans

Nov 2, 09 4:43 PM CST
(Newser) - The Tsavo lions, reputed to have consumed 135 railroad workers in Africa at the turn of the last century, were not quite as ravenous as legend would have it. The lions—whose stuffed carcasses are enshrined at Chicago ’s Field Museum —actually dispatched a mere 35 souls,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Africa • Kenya • Chicago • railroad • Field Museum • Tsavo lions • British Empire • taxidermy • John H. Patterson

 Kenya Feels Betrayed by 
 'Brother Barack' 

US practices diplomatic tough love

Oct 2, 09 2:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - Kenyans adore Barack Obama, affectionately calling him “Brother Barack,” but they’re starting to get the feeling he doesn’t love them back. The Obama administration has been far harder on Kenya diplomatically than its predecessor, Time reports. Last week Washington threatened to keep 15 senior officials... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Kenya • diplomacy • Raila Odinga • coalition government

125 Stories


One champ is still hopeful
Canadian Press

Kenya political rivals meet, but animosity continues
New York Times


World  •  Sports 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
Kenya • Kenyan elections • Kenyan runners

from our news partners

Associated PressAssociated Press