KENYA:Kenyan athletes funded, organised and in some cases even commanded tribal gangs involved in some of the country's worst violence last month, according to witnesses in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
Two athletes died in clashes as Kalenjin youths used bows, arrows and machetes to drive out members of the Kikuyu tribe believed to be loyal to President Mwai Kibaki.
In a report published today, researchers from the International Crisis Group (ICG) say wealthy Kalenjin athletes have emerged as benefactors of tribal militias, taking over the role traditionally performed by tribal elders.
François Grignon, Africa director, said: "We are very confident that they are part of the equation. They are a rising elite who see their leadership potential and economic prospects being curtailed by the fact that they are politically marginalised nationally."
Athletics officials dismissed the allegations as malicious rumours designed to further inflame tribal tensions.
The Rift Valley is famous for producing top middle and long-distance runners.
Eldoret's high altitude, at more than 2,000m (1.24 miles), and cool temperatures make it ideal for endurance training.
Coaches in the area believe that the tribe is responsible for winning some 40 per cent of top honours at world and Olympic level, from 800m to marathons, since 1980.
The result is an investment boom as winnings are ploughed into farmland and real estate around the valley. The money has transformed sleepy, depressed rural villages and restored Kalenjin pride which has taken a battering since their man, Daniel arap Moi, stepped down from the presidency.
But the region is also home to members of Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, who bought land vacated by British settlers at independence.
Years of simmering tension between the two communities exploded in the wake of December's disputed elections.
Opposition supporters from the Kalenjin tribe launched a wave of attacks directed against Kikuyus in violence later described by US assistant secretary of state for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer as "ethnic cleansing". In the worst episode, more than 30 people sheltering inside a church were burned to death.
Moreover, athletes did not escape the killing. Wesly Ngetich, a 34-year-old marathon runner with two victories under his belt, died after being hit by an arrow. Lucas Sang, a 400m runner who competed in the 1988 Olympics, was stoned to death.
The ICG report claims he was commanding a Kalenjin gang at the time. "The athletes, most of whom have a military background, are reportedly also training and sometimes commanding the raiders," it noted.
Isaiah Kiplagat, chairman of Athletics Kenya, dismissed the allegations. "Athletes are a peace-loving people and have organised peace meetings," he said.
More than 1,000 people have died in violence since Mr Kibaki was sworn in for a disputed second term of office.
Kenya has seen calm restored in the past fortnight as the country's political rivals engaged in negotiations mediated by chief negotiator Kofi Annan.
But yesterday opposition leaders said they would return to the streets if the government failed to start work on a new constitution, seen as the first step to a powersharing arrangement.
Anyang Nyongo, secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement, said his party would organise mass protests if parliament was not convened within a week. "Mr Kibaki and his Party of National Unity are procrastinating in the mediation talks as if there is no urgency in reaching a political settlement in this country," he said.
Meanwhile, Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai told reporters she had received a number of death threats from the Mungiki armed sect.
Ms Maathai is a former government minister and is of the Kikuyu tribe - the same ethnic group as Mr Kibaki. However, she has appealed for compromise by leaders from both sides.