The late Kenyan athlete, Nyantika Mayioro who has succumbed to tuberculosis lived in far of losing his property. When he was in hospital, he lamented that his 15-acre land, given to him by Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, at independence for his athletics exploits, was being grabbed.
He also had to put up a fight with individuals who attempted to grab a house the colonial government awarded him for outstanding performances in athletics in 1952.
It was only after personal interventions by then President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the house at the Gusii Stadium was spared. He has died fighting to ward off land grabbers who have encroached on the 15-acre farm in Isoge, Nyamira County.
Mayioro’s daughter, Melodius Nyanchama Nyantika, says; ”The fights with the grabbers have left him weak and contribute a great deal to his medical condition. We have reported several times to the local authorities at Kijauri but nothing has been done and we suspect that they may have been compromised by the same grabbers.”
Speaking in year 2014 at his home in Kiogoro where he was recovering, Maiyoro said he held the piece of land at Isoge with affection as it bears sentimental value to him and Kenya’s history; ”Mzee Jomo Kenyatta gave me the land at independence in 1963. I remember it was during a visit to State House in Mombasa that I met Mzee Kenyatta and told him my biggest problem was that I didn’t have any land. He then ordered the District Commissioner in Kisii at the time, Isaiah Mathenge, to hand the land to me.”