Nyandika Maiyoro

Nyandika Maiyoro (born 1931 in Kiogoro, Nyaribare Chache) is a retired runner from Kenya.

He attended Nyakegogi Primary School but dropped out after five years to concentrate on his athletics career. He was coached by the paramount chief Musa Nyandusi.^[1]

He won 3000 metres race at the 1953 Indian Ocean Games in Madagascar. This despite he started the race late, and joined it when other runners had run more than 100 metres.^[2]

He competed at the 1954 Commonwealth Games, the first ever major international championships that Kenya participated. He was fourth in the three miles race.^[3] At the 1956 Summer Olympics he was 7th in the 5000 metres race. He competed at the 1958 Commonwealth games, but did not perform very well.^[2] Two years later, at the 1960 Summer Olympics he was 6th at the 5000 metres race.^[4] His time, 13:52.8 minutes was a new African record.^[2] He retired from running in 1964.^[5]

After retirement, he worked as Nyamira District Sports Officer and later Gusii Stadium manager. He has since retired to his farm,^[6] which is located in Borabu District and was donated to him by then president Jomo Kenyatta.^[7] After the 1954 Commonwealth Games he was also donated a house at Gusii Stadium by Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi, but after he retired from his job as a stadium manager, the house was seized by the Gusii municipal council, who claim the house was allocated to him only as a housing benefit while he was working for the council as a stadium manager.^[5] However, after the issue was highlighted by the Kenyan media, the Prime minister Raila Odinga ordered the house to be returned to Maiyoro.^[8]

He has two wives (Mogute and Pasticha) and 14 children.^[1] Maiyoro, who ran for Kenya under colonial times, has been awarded the MBE honour.^[9]

References