Inter-Parliamentary Games: Another Glittering Gold For Kenya As Kingara Defends Walking Race Title

_{Ruiru MP Simon Kingara on his way to defending the 1600m men’s Walking Race title at KPA Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa on December 13, 2024. PHOTO/ COURTESY}

MOMBASA, Kenya- Cheers rent the air as Ruiru MP Simon Kingara cruised to the tape in 9:42.6 to win for Kenya a fourth gold in men’s walking race.

At the same time, Muranga Senator Joe Nyuto clocked 26.8 in men’s 200m as Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee timed 2:31.4 in men’s 800m to add a bronze each in the Kenya’s medal harvest.

Kingara was elated to emerge champion in the hotly contested men’s 1600m (four lapse) walking race which he was also defending.

Ugandan Patrick Ocan  came second in the race in 9:49.7 as his compatriot John Teira (10:55.2) finished a distant third.

Kingara was defending the category he won last year in the 13th edition of the championship held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The mid morning contest, held under hot humid Mombasa weather, started off well with Ugandan Ocan commanding the lead throughout the rounds, it was not until the last 200m of the last lap that Kingara opened his Turbo charged engine to soar past the burnt out Ocan to win the coveted title.

“I feel great, I feel wonderful, I can’t believe I beat the Ugandan because he was a well built military man who was also deemed as the race favourite,” Kingara told Standard Sports.

_{Ruiru MP Simon Kingara after defending the 1600m men’s Walking Race title at KPA Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa on December 13, 2024. PHOTO/ COURTESY}

“Initially, I had resolved to settle for my humble silver then it pained me that we were hosting the games, so I said there was no way I could settle for second place, I immediately stepped up my game and whizzed past him and I’m glad I won,” Kingara narrated after the competition.

Kingara attributed his good show in the race to adequate training he did in Nairobi at the Nyayo National Stadium for the last three months.

“Again next year, I’m going to apply the same training and tactics so as to defend this gold for a second time,” he underlined.

Kingara admitted that the humid Mombasa weather took toll on most of the participants so it needed a bit of mental toughness to win the challenge.

Apart from the intense rivalry on the pitch, Kingara is happy that the ongoing games are enhancing regional integration among the participating MPs from the eight nations involved.

Selected Results 

Darts Team Event

1.Kenya- Gold

2.Tanzania- Silver

3.Uganda- Bronze

Darts standing ladies

1.Mwantatu Khamis (Tanzania) – Gold

2.Janet Sitienei (Kenya) – Silver 

3.George Mbugua (Kenya)- Bronze

Darts standing men

1.Ally Mwata (Tanzania)- Gold

2.Mumali Mpindi (Uganda)- Silver

3.George Mbugua (Kenya)- Bronze

Men’s Walking Race

1.Simon Kingara 9:42.6

2.Patrick Ocan (Uganda) 9:49.7

3.John Teira (Uganda) 10:55.2

4.Yona Musinguzi (Uganda) 1:52.2

5.Elijah Mushemeza (Uganda) 11:57.4

Men’s 200m final

1.Benard Odoi (Uganda) 25.2

2.Patrick Ochan (Uganda) 26.1

3.Joe Nyuto (Kenya)  26.8

4.Mohammed Mgaza (Tanzania) 27.1

5.Ali Mchara Mcharo (EALA) 27.1

Men’s 800m final

1.Julius Achon (Uganda) 2:26.0

2.Robert Ssekiitoleeko (Uganda) 2:28.1

3.Titus Lotee (Kenya) 2:31.4

4.James Mamawi (Uganda) 2:38.0

5.Gerald Siranda (EALA) 2:50.6

Women’s basketball 

Kenya 25. 47 Tanzania 

Men’s volleyball 

Kenya 3. 1 EALA 

Women’s netball 

Kenya 46 31 EALA