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Omanyala, Africa's fastest man is poised to win Kenya the first 100m medal in athletics World Championships.
A video of Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala queuing to get served at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has irked Kenyans who took to social media to lament on the poor treatment of athletes.
Politician and journalist Tony Kwalanda posted the video on his Facebook and Twitter pages and captioned it saying: “I am very embarrassed as a Kenyan!!! How can KLM make Africa's record holder Ferdinand Omanyala queue at the international departures at JKIA???
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HOW??? With my own two eyes, I saw all this unfold in front of me!!! This is utterly WRONG!!!!”
Other users joined him in condemning the act with justifications that he has brought glory to the nation and should therefore be treated like a champion.
Penny Nganga commented on the video saying: “Our sportsmen should be using VIP Lounge. Yes, they bring glory to our land. He is actually the Commonwealth champion and Africa's fastest man.”
A Twitter user, Kiptoo Kemboi, noted that such will always happen until the government gives athletes diplomatic passports.
He said: “That will still happen until the day the government ensures our athletes are given diplomatic passports.”
However, other people seemed not to see a problem with how Omanyala was being treated. One Twitter user, Grace Mwelu said: “But Tony you of all the people should know better, what is the function of queues in an airport…check-in and security checks and all that.
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Which passport category does he hold? What ticket category was he flying? Hizi zingine ni whipping emotions.”
Another Facebook user, Linet Ayuko, said: “Well depends on his Ticket setup. Also, him being a frequent flyer depending on the airlines he uses one earns Jet miles and based on that.
You get perks that give you priority check-ins and you hardly queue. Also, ways to access lounges regardless of what class you flying. The airline may not be at fault at all. Brother can be enlightened.”
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