“Please help Nyamau. He is very sick. If there was a time he needed the country most, that time is now.”
These were the words of legendary Kenyan runner Charles Asati, speaking soon after visiting his former Olympic teammate, Hezekiah Nyamau, at Kisii Specialist Hospital on Wednesday, September 3.
Asati and Nyamau are the only surviving members of the quartet that won Kenya a gold medal at the 1978 Munich Olympics. The other athletes in that team were Robert Ouko, who died in 2019, and Julius Sang, who died in 2004.
Legendary Kenyan athlete Hezekiah Nyamau at Kisii Specialist Hospital on September 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Wycliffe Nyaberi | Nation
However, Nyamau, 88, who was born and raised in Nyaguta village in the Nyaribari Chache constituency of Kisii County, has been in hospital for the past three weeks, battling gallbladder cancer.
His family said that he was diagnosed with the disease in February this year. He has been in and out of hospital since then.
They said he has undergone three surgeries that have exhausted their resources, which is why they are appealing for help.
Asati, a close friend of Nyamau's, has called on leaders, especially those from the Gusii community, to lend a helping hand.
“It pains me to see my friend in agony. He is indeed ill and needs our support and prayers. I appeal to our leaders, especially his MP, Zaheer Jhanda, and his team, to come to his rescue,” Asati said on Thursday, September 4.
“We are the only surviving members of the quartet that brought Kenya that honour at the Olympic Games. I believe that fete has not been achieved again.”
Athletics Kenya South Nyanza chairman Peter Angwenyi said they have spoken to the Ministry of Sports asking it to support the retired runner.
“We are aware of the matter and we want to wish Mzee well. I have briefed our national President Jack Tuwei and all the relevant stakeholders about his condition. There is a plan in place to help the legendary athlete,” Angwenyi said while calling on other leaders to extend a helping hand to Nyamau.
Rose Tata Muya, former Olympian and national record holder in the 400m hurdles, said they had taken note of Nyamau’s case, adding that he would be considered for the veteran cash reward.
“We have been made aware of Nyamau’s case and we will be meeting next week to discuss how he is going to get his reward. We have had many ailing legends from various disciplines and I can assure you that Nyamau is going to be considered to be the next beneficiary. We increased the reward from Sh300,000 to Sh500, 000,” Tata told Nation Sport.
