This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
July 6, 2020, marked a significant milestone for Nana Gecaga, the CEO of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), as she celebrated 21 years of sobriety.
Reflecting on her journey, Nana described quitting alcohol as the biggest decision she made in her life, thanking those who supported her along the way.
“21 years ago today I made the biggest decision in my life which was to stop drinking. I just want to thank everyone who has been on this journey with me 21 years ago till today. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and love,” Nana said through Instagram.
Her struggles with alcoholism began in her youth, with Nana admitting to consuming a crate of beer and a bottle of hard liquor in one sitting. This habit ultimately derailed her dream of becoming an athlete, having earned a place to represent Kenya in the 1996 Olympics.
“With that comes regret; my biggest regret is that it {alcoholism} derailed me from pursuing my dream in athletics, even after qualifying for the 1996 Summer Olympics – sprinting. Due to drinking, heavily at that time, I just said: ‘I had qualified for the Olympics, but did not go’.”
However, Nana has since found purpose in her life, crediting her experience with building character and giving her the strength to move forward.
