The Athletics Kenyan Chairman Isaiah Kiplagat has very serious issues with Marakwet athletes and officials.
The most recent and obvious demonstration of his disdain towards the Marakwet was when he disqualified Sammy Kitwara from representing Kenya in the World Championships in Berlin. What was Kiplagat's reason for disqualifying Kitwara again? According to a TV broadcast after disqualifying Kitwara, Kiplagat said, "Kitwara competed in a road after been selected to represent Kenya in World Championships without seeking AK's permission and won only $2000[sic], yet NIKE would pay $100,000 [sic] if an athlete won a medal in Berlin". As legitimate as may sound, there was no such rule and no athlete was ever notified of that rule until after Kitwara was DQ.
The genesis of Kiplagat's dislike of the Marakwet became very conspicuous after Moses Kiplagat (former 3000 SC WR Holder) decided to run for the AK Chairmanship against Isaiah Kiplagat. Can you guess where Moses Kiptanui is from? Marakwet. Once Isaiah Kiplagat defeated Moses Kiptanui for AK Chairmanship, any athlete associated with Kiptanui's camp or from Marakwet has been having a very difficult time with the Isaiah Kiplagat and by extension with the organization he leads which is the Athletics Kenya. It has been very difficult especially for the Marakwet athletes. This is common knowledge amongst Kenyan athletes and officials including the Minister of Sports who has been briefed about the unfair tactics employed against Marakwet athletes.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics games, Ezekiel Kemboi (a Marakwet) was going to be DQ from representing Kenya by Kiplagat, but some sensible personalities in AK prevailed upon Kiplagat not to DQ Kemboi as it would be very unfair and would be against selection criteria that had been decided prior to the qualifying competitions.
All this is may be water under the bridge, but those that ignore history never learn. Therefore it is about time that new Kenyan leaders took over the management of AK and sent the current AK leadership to oblivion, and elected some professional, selfless, energetic leaders with good management abilities. New leaders who won’t care whether an athlete is a Nandi or Marakwet or a Kisii. They new AK leaders should only look for the best athletes and this is the only way our Kenyan athletes can distance themselves from the Ethiopians and the rest of the world. The new leadership should and above all be corrupt-proof. The corruption that currently permeates AK is astonishing, and I dont forsee it ending anytime soon and it is bound to fight back against those that want to eradicate it out. It is overdue for Kiplagat and his cabal to be replaced.