Mary Moraa: Kenyan Gold Medalist Who Serves In Special Police Squad
On Wednesday, August 30, she met Inspector-General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome at the NPS Headquarters.
Marvin Chege 
The National Police Service (NPS) alongside other security forces has developed a tendency to produce Kenyan athletes who have grown to stars in their own right in any athletics event laid in front of them.
World and Commonwealth champion Mary Moraa is one such superstar in the athletics world who when not conquering competitors on the track, is serving in the police force mandated to maintain law and order across the country.
On Wednesday, August 30, she met Inspector-General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome at the NPS Headquarters, hours after she returned from Hungary where she won the women's 800m race at the World Athletics Championships.
"Congratulations and well done, you have made NPS proud", praised IG Koome, when he met Moraa at his office, dressed in a jungle-green police uniform and her gold medal draped around her neck.
IG Japhet Koome meets Mary Moraa who won gold in the women's 800m race at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, at his office on August 30, 2023. /NPS
The meeting followed Moraa's stunning performance in the championships where she won at a time of 1:56.03, proving too good on the final straight for race favourites Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) and Athing Mu (USA & defending champion) in a reshuffle of the medals from last year.
Olympic and defending champion Mu, 21, set the pace from the gun but, having barely run the distance this season, was never able to open a gap.
Moraa stayed on her shoulder throughout and delivered her trademark final 100-metre burst to move past the American to triumph in a personal best 1:56.03, leaping and punching the air in celebration as she crossed the line.
Speaking after the race, Moraa described it as the hardest she has ever tackled in her athletics career, adding that she had to run with her head and a lot of calculation went into the race.
"After bronze last year I wanted to improve and I have. Everyone in the final was so fast that I knew I would have to have a fast finish. I came from a long way behind but I managed to do it," she told Reuters.
Mary Moraa Police Career
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.
The IG advised Corporal Moraa and her fellow NPS athletes to uphold discipline and shun malpractices, particularly doping.
"Of the 10 Medals won by Kenya in Budapest, 5 were bagged by NPS Officers.
"The National Police Service remains committed to its Constitutional mandate: To strive for the highest standards of professionalism," added NPS.
Millions Kenyan Athletes Bagged In World Athletics Championships
Moraa joined the golden girls’ category after a scintillating win in the 800m women’s final, with the ‘dancing queen’ pocketing $70,000(Ksh10,178,000).
Her fellow female athlete, Faith Kipyegon, who established herself as a one-woman-army claimed a double-golden victory in the 1500m and 5000m finals. Each victory added to her purse $70,000, which means for two gold medals she earned $140,000 (Ksh20,356,000).
In the silver medal category, Emmanuel Wanyonyi came second in the 800m, while Daniel Simiyu Ebenyo emerged as first runner-up in the 10,000m. Beatrice Chepkoech also claimed a silver medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. In this victory, each of them pocketed $35,000 (Ksh5,089,000).
IG Japhet Koome meets Mary Moraa who won gold in the women's 800m race at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, at his office on August 30, 2023. /NPS
As far as bronze goes, Faith Cherotich (3000m steeplechase), Beatrice Chebet(5000m), Jacob Krop (5000m) and Abraham Kibiwott (3000m steeplechase) all claimed medals.
At the Budapest championship bronze medalists were reserved $22,000. Out of this, the bank balance of each athlete is projected to have some Ksh3,198,800.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand Omanyala, the Kenyan sprint sensation, secured the seventh position in the 100m final. In a dazzling display of resilience and tenacity, Omanyala captured the hearts of millions at the international event.
Beyond, the mere numbers on the scoreboard, he pocketed a prize award of $6,000 (Ksh872,400), for finishing seventh in the 100m final. He shrugged stiff competition to qualify from the Heats and the Semis, becoming the first Kenyan to ever compete in a World Championship 100m Final.
The heroic Kenyan athletes are expected to be treated to a red-carpet luncheon by the State in the coming days, where more awards await them.
