This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna has sparked outrage among Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) with a tweet that undermined Eliud Kipchoge's historic marathon achievement on October 12, 2019. Kipchoge made history by becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours, with a time of 1:59:40.
However, Miguna's tweet, which was posted on October 14, 2019, sparked a heated debate among Kenyans, with many calling him out for his disparaging remarks. In the tweet, Miguna said that Kenyans should celebrate the achievements of 'the brain and not runners', and that wars are not won by runners.
"In 2019, as the world celebrates NOBEL PRIZE winners in Physics, Economics, Medicine, Literature, Peace and other ACHIEVEMENTS of the HUMAN BRAIN, CREATIVITY and INDUSTRY, Kenyans are ululating over RUNNERS. Hunters and gatherers are obsolete. Wars are no longer won by runners," Miguna's tweet read.
However, many Kenyans were quick to respond to Miguna's tweet, with some calling him out for his disparaging remarks. "This dude, Miguna Miguna, needs to understand that our runners are our pride and joy. They make us smile when moments seem bleak, they make us love our dialect, the broken phrases of English or the traditional foods we so strongly believe make us Run faster," tweeted @NanaMuigai.
Others also responded to Miguna's tweet, with some calling him out for his hypocrisy. "So according to Miguna×2, Eliud Kipchoge is 'hunters and gatherers'. In his other tweets, he is gonna unveil the Manifesto of the Kenya Patriotic Front (KPF). I blocks everyone who dares go against his views. Who is he gonna unveil this manifesto to? This Miguna Miguna," tweeted @DFK_ONyamokami.
