Special Olympics Games: Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi promises goodies to Team Kenya

The spouse of the Deputy President, and Patron of the Special Olympics Kenya, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi promised to kick start a nationwide advocacy to recognize and include more children with intellectual disabilities in sports.

Her statement comes at a time when Kenya scooped three medals on the fourth day of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany.

“We shall go across the 47 counties and look for others with intellectual disabilities, and maybe in the next Special Olympics, Kenya will have the largest team. We will prepare properly, and when we attend the games, we will win many medals," she said during a visit to the team's hotel in Berlin.

Kenya got its first three medals from David Ngugi, who won gold in the 15km cycling road race, David Mutiso, who won gold in the 800M race and Willis Otieno, who made a way with silver in the standing long jump.

Following their victory in the few games, Pastor Dorcas has urged team Kenya to eye for more medals in the coming competitions. She also promised to award the team with more goodies upon their return to the country.

“I will give KSh40, 000 for gold medalists, KSh15, 000 for silver, KSh10, 000 for bronze. In addition, every coach will get KSh20, 000 and all who participated will also receive something,” said Pastor Dorcas.

In other games, the girls’ beach volleyball team beat Costa Rica, India and Saudi Arabia but lost to Italy in the divisional round matches. The men’s beach volleyball team on the other side beat the host country, Germany.

Following the teams’ performance on the world stage, Pastor Dorcas appreciated their coaches for the unity they forged among the players.

“The coaches have been great friends to you and have ensured you remain a strong unit. Ultimately, everyone who came here is a winner,” said Pastor Dorcas.

On his side, Thuo Cege, Chairman of Special Olympics Kenya congratulated the teams for their exemplary performance in the Division Round Games and their effort to win medals.

“I know the diet is different here from the Kenyan meals, but you have braved it,” he said.

Head of Kenya Delegation James Okwiri, who was also present at the hotel, said that his team would come home with a bag of medals, noting that they had shown exemplary discipline and tenacity during their training.

Okwiri also asked Kenyans to enrol their children in the Special Olympics to empower them despite their intellectual disability.