Kenya's athletics team to the Christchurch Commonwealth Games returned to Nairobi on Monday (4 February) to a State welcome. There to greet them at Embakasi Airport was Vice President Daniel Arap Moi, Co-operatives and Social Services Minister, Masinde Muliro and a military band.

The team had distinguished itself at the Games, finishing fifth in the medals table behind Australia, England Canada and New Zealand. They brought back with them seven gold medals, two silver and eight bronze.

They also boasted the outstanding athlete of the Games, Ben Jipcho, who won two golds and a bronze. Jipcho is now considering turning professional, on a contract offered him by the International Track Association.

The Kenyan glory was not unmarred, however. In the early stages of the Games, Kenyan athletes were severely criticized for jostling other runners on the track to ensure victory for a team-mate.