President Kibaki is introduced to a Kenyan family by the High Commissioner to London, Mr Ephraim Ngare, on his arrival in the UK. Photo/PPS

Following Friday night’s colourful opening ceremony at the spanking new Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London, business proper starts on Saturday at the 30th Olympic Games with Kenya on a twin-pronged mission to rake in the medals and market itself as Africa’s preferred investment destination.
Sports and commerce are top of Kenya’s priorities here with President Kibaki leading a high-powered delegation to woo investors on the fringes of the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza, that runs until August 12.
Kenya is represented in swimming, boxing, athletics and weightlifting and never before have expectations been so high, with President Kibaki’s presence fuelling the excitement in the Kenyan camp.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to attend the games’ closing ceremony on August 12, the climax of the final day being the men’s marathon where Kenya will fight to retain the late Samuel Wanjiru’s title, with world champion Abel Kirui, London Marathon title holder Wilson Kipsang and World Marathon Majors winner Emmanuel Mutai carrying the Kenyan flag in the 42-kilometre race.
Activities will shift between the Olympic Park, where the competition is centred, and Kenya House in Stratford, where top officials from Kenya’s private and public sector will brief potential investors and Kenyans in the diaspora.
Kenya Commercial Bank has pumped in Sh35 million to set up Kenya House, with the bank’s chief executive Martin Oduor saying KCB’s highlight will be to launch an Internet-based diaspora banking service.
“The government, through Brand Kenya, developed the concept of Kenya House where athletes and Kenyans can come together to network and display some of the positive aspects of the economy and use it as a means of attracting investment to Kenya,” Mr Oduor said.On Saturday, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Ahmed Isaack Hassan will be at Kenya House to talk about voter registration and voting in the diaspora with President Kibaki expected to address an investment summit at the London Mayor’s Mansion House on Monday.
“The government would like to diversify as there are more returns from new areas like sports in which we are very well known around the world and we are here to use sport to demonstrate that we are good in investment opportunities,” Mrs Mary Kimonye, Brand Kenya CEO, said at Kenya House ahead of last night’s £27 million (Sh3.6 billion) opening ceremony attended by over 100 heads of state and government, including Mr Kibaki.
Jason Dunford, the Beijing Olympics 50 metres butterfly finalist, was Kenya’s flag carrier at last night’s ceremony.
Weightlifter Mercy Obiero will be the first Kenyan in action when she competes in the 69-kg class in the snatch and clean-and-jerk categories from 12.30pm (local time).
“Mercy is 95 per cent good and we hope in the remaining few days she will hit 100 per cent,” her team manager John Ogolla said on Friday.
“We have so far attained the minimum weight of 70kg in the snatch and we expect no less than 95kg in the clean-and-jerk, with our target being 105kg.”
Kenya’s Olympic legend Kipchoge Keino is a much sought after man here for autographs and as chairman of the National Olympic Committee has been key to Kenya’s preparations.
“All is well and these Games have been accorded the highest status, with Queen Elizabeth inviting us to Buckingham Palace this week and the presence of President Kibaki here shows how serious the government is in supporting sport,” Keino said at Kenya House on Friday.
And as the Games programme rolls out today, Kenyans expect the best ever medal haul that could possibly surpass the six gold, four silver and four bronze medals panned at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Kenya is favoured to win a minimum of 10 gold medals in the men’s and women’s marathons, the men’s and women’s 800m, 1,500m (men), 5,000m (women), 3,000m steeplechase (men and women), 5,000m (women) and 10,000m (women).