A former Kenyan athlete living in the United States has sent an appeal to well-wishers to help him return to Kenya.
66-year-old Henry Rono, who has lived in the US in the last 32 years, is seeking help to acquire a flight ticket that will enable him to return to his motherland.
Rono who works as an airport guard in Albuquerque, New Mexico, says his stay in the US is painful since all his property was stolen and has no one to take care of him. He says he would love to enjoy his sunset years in Kenya.
“I live like a handicapped person nowadays, because I have no help. People took advantage of me to steal my property. I need help,” Rono told the Daily Nation.
One of his friends in the US, Rich Dafter, has launched a fund drive for Rono’s upkeep.
“He has been sick with the flu and can’t work. I saw him yesterday and he is the same Henry that I have always known. He has a Nandi warrior’s heart and his mind wants to be able to direct his body to do what it does best,” Dafter said.
“It is like a person who has served in the military and ends up being homeless because we haven’t respected their service to their country. He electrified the running world with his accomplishments and we need to always remember that.”
Legendary Kenyan runner Kipchoge Keino has offered to bring Rono back to the country. Keino says Rono was his friend during their running days in the 60s and 70s and even helped him secure a track scholarship at the Washington State University in 1976.
“I’m ready to buy Rono his ticket. It is me who got him into competition in the US and I will make sure he comes back home. We need him to come home and see his family,” said Keino.
Rono was the record holder for the 3,000 meters steeplechase for more than 10 years and also set a world record for the 5,000 meters steeplechase twice between 1978 and 1981.
An airport guard cannot…
An airport guard cannot afford to buy a one way ticket to Kenya??
If you can’t be part of a…
If you can’t be part of a solution to a problem stfu and get out of the way. Let those who can help help. You obvious don’t know who this guy was nor do you care. Case of case the kettle black.
Good clapping back, some…
Good clapping back, some people think this can never happen to them
Proud of you Andrew for…
Proud of you Andrew for shutting the negative minded down.
Mucang’ang’a. Remember the…
Mucang’ang’a. Remember the ongoing SHUTdown (that has adversly Directly and Dndirectly affected the Airports; and therefore those Employees who live Check-to-Ckeck).?
Your level of insensitivity…
Your level of insensitivity.everyone needs help sometimes.?
“Rono was the record holder…
“Rono was the record holder for the 3,000 meters steeplechase for more than 10 years….” and where did the money go again? Not laughing at you Rono, just curious because I know that was likely a lot.
@mteja, long ago people did…
@mteja, long ago people did not make much money by running. I guess he misused whatever he got. @Mkenya halisi hapa utasema nini?
@ Kenya, you have hit the…
@ Kenya, you have hit the nail on the head.Yes when Rono was running and breaking those records,sponsers were not that keen at shelling out cash,especially in America,where football, basketball,and baseball rule the day.
It is also unfortunate that he missed the Olympics. Can you imagine what kind of notoriety ,and status he would have been bestowed had he won 4 olympic gold medals?
As popular,and famous as David Rudisha is, his Net worth is about $500,000. Last time I checked Usain Bolt had a net worth of about 4million dollar.And these are pretty much stars of today.
Track and field does not fetch money,and that’s why out 10,000,and 5000 runners are switching to road races like the marathons.
I believe that had ROno switched to marathons, he could have done better financially.As good as he was, I could see him winning marathon majors which to day fetch $500,000.
But all these is water under the bridge. He needs help now.I personally think that the government should set up a fund for people like Rono who have proudly flown high the Kenyan flag,and now have hit hard times.Till then,all good Kenyans,and sports lovers should come together,and help him.Iam waiting for the go-fund- me link, that his friend is setting up for him. And yes, this could happen to anybody.Whether he squanders his wealth,at present,it is irrelevant.He is not asking much. Only a ticket to return to his home country Kenya.
Gold news is that Kipchoge Keino has stepped to the place,and will buy Rono a ticket…
The article literally says…
The article literally says all his property was stolen. Read.
An American workmate of mine…
An American workmate of mine was at Washington State University in Pullman, WA at the same time Rono was around. Apparently, his house was open to any Kenyan who landed in Pullman before they got their bearings. According to my workmate, Rono was extremely generous and always thinking about his family in Kenya as well. So sad to see how things have gone south for him. I hope someone, especially his beneficiaries, steps up to the plate to return the favor. Yes, we shoulda also be cognizant of the fact that this can happen to ANY of us.
Let’s get him back home!
Let’s get him back home!
We should have a little more…
We should have a little more empathy with our fellow human beings. I will not laugh at brother Henry Rono for being in that situation. Tomorrow it could be me. You really have to be very careful with America. This is a tough country with tons of bills coming at you every month. At least huku nyumbani my house and my cars are all paid for. Kufa na kupona. Home is the best not matter what you do. Thank you bwana Keino for coming through. Good luck bwana Rono. I would never laugh at you.
Wow! I hear the Kenyans in…
Wow! I hear the Kenyans in the US are super supportive. He should reach out to Jeremy Damaris…. seen some good stuff from him. FG2..this can indeed happen to anyone. I have always said the system in the West is engineered to run itself, i.e one works, pays into the system and all seems to be fine as long as one is healthy. One wrong move or misfortune and all comes tumbling down! I do believe that Russian leader who said African go the west to enrich and return home to be buried/die. That guy hit a nerve…I can’t shake off the scorn in this statement! I blame Imara for posting the link a while ago! Boy, I am forever reassessing my strategy. Damn!
I’m more proud of him to…
I’m more proud of him to have come out and asked for help . He is my hero ! Most people huku majuu live a feigned life and when shit hits the fan are unwilling out of shame to reach out and admit, things have gone south and make it back home when it is not too late. I know a few people who have assumed life of asking for peni mbili yet in Kenya they have family land where they can leave it all behind and go and start again or at least be somewhere where you can lead somewhat decent life.
He did Kenya proud when he…
He did Kenya proud when he could. The same cannot be said of our leaders who are bhang smoking drunkards whose riches are from corruption.
Dada Sukari: Kwa nini…
Dada Sukari: Kwa nini unanilaumu (blame me) kwa kueneza (share) mambo ambayo rais wa Urusi anavyofikiri juu ya Wafrika? Je, kwa nini ungali umestaajabu Dada yangu Mpendwa Sukari?
Hata mimi nimestaajabu na pia kusikitika kusikia yaliyompata Ndugu yetu Henry Rono hapa Marekani.
Taarifa ya uwekaji pesa katika benki wa marekani (Dec.21, 2018 yasema:
“…Aside from adults 65 and older, millennials have the smallest percentage of respondents with less than $ 1,000.00 saved. The survey found that 54% of young millennials ages 18 to 24 and 57% of older millennials ages 25 to 34 have less than $ 1,000 00 saved.”
Is this the guy
https://m…
Is this the guy
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gecLMIpYCaY
Kama ni mbaya..mbaya..lete cashup tutoe hata kama ni kumi kumi our hero arudi home kunywa Maziwa..miskit..
You can invest but it takes a blink of a second to bring you down be it how smart one is..USA. or +254
He is a Kenyan regardless of…
He is a Kenyan regardless of the circumstances his wish should be fulfilled.
Badala ya mkristo (Ruto)…
Badala ya mkristo (Ruto) kumwaga pesa kanisani akitoa hongo, ingekuwa bora kama angetoa pesa za kumrudisha shujaa huyu wa Kenya nyumbani. mkristo (Ruto) umesikia?
So how does this help Runo?…
So how does this help Runo? Why complicate matters? The guy said ne needs help. You can either help or stop making the issue worse but adding unrelated parameters to the equation. Help the guy out.
Henry Rono’s case is a sad…
Henry Rono’s case is a sad one. We should all help because to err is human and nothing less. However, it’d be futile to help without drawing a lesson from the man’s life. Rono won lots of money on the track, money that could have helped set himself up for life way other famous Kenyan athletes have done. But he became too friendly to the beer bottle and it messed him up. I have followed his story for years and it’s been tragic throughout. America is truly a land of opportunity but it’s your responsibility to do the RIGHT THING once you land the opportunity – use your God given gift of the mind to help yourself & those around you and all will be well
@Imara, nakulaumu because I…
@Imara, nakulaumu because I was oblivious to that insult… I mean reality until you brought it to our attention! Iliumiza roho na inazidi kuumiza. @Mlachake…you have shone a light on the mystery. Addiction is a bummer….all loved ones can do is watch as it grips and sucks the life out of it’s victim. Lakini atapata culture shock going home after all these years! Namtakia mema. Sad, sad and downright unfair.
Everyone in the diaspora…
Everyone in the diaspora should read this again and share. This is where most of us are headed.
Wow! I hear the Kenyans in the US are super supportive. He should reach out to Jeremy Damaris…. seen some good stuff from him. FG2..this can indeed happen to anyone. I have always said the system in the West is engineered to run itself, i.e one works, pays into the system and all seems to be fine as long as one is healthy. One wrong move or misfortune and all comes tumbling down! I do believe that Russian leader who said African go the west to enrich and return home to be buried/die. That guy hit a nerve…I can’t shake off the scorn in this statement! I blame Imara for posting the link a while ago! Boy, I am forever reassessing my strategy. Damn!
East or West home is the…
East or West home is the best!Hizi countries za wazungu we love n don’t see any negatives in them but only home sio kwenyu.I have insisted have something hapa home to return to when shit happens but wazungu black diasporas kenyans keep calling me names??@66 mzee rudi nyumbani urelax but it will b very painful having leaved maisha ya juu.Je choo ya nje utaweza kusquote??Vumbi ya gichagi utawezana nayo?Ofcourse u don’t have anything if ur asking for ticket help so life will b very difficult mzee at yr age??Let it be a lesson to the majuu folks who always think wako maheaven??Always keep in mind SHIT happens???Kula tano weka tano for the rainy day folks.
What is the donation being…
What is the donation being sent to because people that are kind hearted are exploited and he is probably paying the cost of being kind.
All people of Goodwill, Let…
All people of Goodwill, Let us act and help Mr Rono. It’s not right to turn his request into a discussion or debate .Can someone set up a money collection link? Personally,lam ready to contribute to his Ticket.
“Taabu ni ya Kila Mtu”.My friend you never know of tomorrow.
Said and done, this is not a…
Said and done, this is not a Rono problem. The gentleman will get a ticket home and possibly start collecting social security (he is 66) and Kenya’s elderly benefits as well. This, is a diaspora problem and each of us need to reflect on as sunset days approach. Many of us may not come public about the desire to go back to homeland (with something to show for all those years) but it is complicated. Apparently for many (like Jacobs and his descendants) it was easier to come to majuu than to return to Jamhuri. What are the lessons I learn?
Lesson 1: The prodigal moments are only few pay checks away.
Lesson 2: “Pharaoh, Let my people go”. Let people go back after 30 years, 10 years, six years, 1 year or even 6 months-they may have seen the self-promised land from afar. On the other hand let people come even as we go for they have an appointment with destiny to lay claim on the self-promised land that is diaspora.
Lesson 3: I hear folks say Kenya ina wenyewe and I guess the same maybe true with majuu-ina wenyewe kwa hivyo tujipange as one Mkenyahalisi admonishes.
It’s like there’s a …
It’s like there’s a ‘diaspora curse’ around us. 1st it’s Majaja and now its Rono…it’s sad. There’s a contagious fear in the minds of diaspora community. This fear is pushing people to contribute enmasse. Contributing without involving dreams in our hearts is dangerous and has no blessing. This practice need to stop.