Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, hosted 800m World Athletics Champion Mary Moraa.
The meeting follows Moraa’s stunning performance in the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary where she clinched Gold Medal in the Women’s 800M race.
“Congratulations and well done, you have made NPS proud,” said IG Koome, when he met the 800m Gold Medalist at his Office at National Police Service (NPS) headquarters.
Moraa who was enlisted in the Administration Police Service as a Police Constable in 2021, currently serves under the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) responsible for emergency response to public disorders.
During the meeting, the IG advised Corporal Moraa as well as her fellow NPS athletes to uphold discipline and shun malpractices, particularly doping.
Personal Best
Moraa posted her personal best of 1:56.03 in Budapest with Keely Hodgkinson clocking 1:56.34, and Athing Mu of the USA 1:56.61.
Of the 10 Medals won by Kenya in Budapest, NPS officers won 5.
“The National Police Service remains committed to its Constitutional mandate: To strive for the highest standards of professionalism,” noted the NPS.
The 23-year-old Moraa is an 800m specialist.
She won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships as well as a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Moraa is also the Kenyan record holder for the 400 metres.
In addition, she was the 2022 Diamond League 800 m champion.
The athlete’s rise to stardom was difficult, as she was orphaned at age 2 after the death of her father and then her mother.
She grew up with her grandparents, in Kisii in western Kenya and won an education bursary through running.
Her gold was among the only three that Kenya had in the World Championship – alongside two from Faith Kipyegon in 1500m and 5000m.
