Stephen Bartonjo Rotich: The pioneer track star from Baringo

He became the first Kenyan athlete alongside Arere Anentia to win a medal at any intercontinental championships in 1958

The county of Baringo, like many other counties of the Rift valley, has produced a fair share of seasoned athletes who are renowned for their exploits across the globe. The pioneer of the sport of running in the county and arguably one of Kenyas athletics fathers, and with a career that can be traced back into the early 1950s, is none other than Stephen Bartonjo Rotich.

Bartonjo Rotich was born May 25, 1937 in Kabartonjo in Baringo District and started formal learning and his running career in 1952 in  a missionary primary school in Eldama-Ravine in the now Koibatek District. He proceeded for his intermediate stage of study at the Government African School in Kabarnet where, apart from studying, he furthered his running skills acquired from primary school by participating in intermediate schools athletics competitions, which encompassed all intermediate schools from Kabarnet, Tambach, Kapsabet and Kapenguria. He went to Kapsabet for his High school education. Were it not for a District Officer at the time who spotted Bartonjo’s intellect, he would not have gone to school in the first place as he had already started working. He says the Government officer advised him to go to class and that is how he found his way through the country’s education system.

But his road to international track stardom came when Authur (Archie) Evans, the then Colonial Sports Officer who is largely credited for the formation of the Kenya Armature Athletics Association-KAAA (which Bartonjo later became its chairman), saw his potential and took him for training and coaching. “After Archie took me for training, I competed and won in districts, provincial and even in national games. That is when I qualified to make it to the national team.” He participated in numerous local and regional competitions and finally plunged into the international arena and limelight in 1956.

1956 is the year that The Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bartonjo Rotich represented Kenya in the Competitions but failed to advance past 400 metres heats and 4x400 metres relay heats, which he ran with Kibet Boit, Samuel Chemweno and Kiptalam Arap Keter. Two years later in 1958, he went away for national duty in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games which were held in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom in July 1958, where he finished third in the 440 yards hurdles race in a time of 51:75. He therefore became the first Kenyan athlete to win a medal at any intercontinental championships alongside Arere Anentia, who won a bronze medal over 6 miles race in the same competitions. At the common wealth games, he also competed in the 4X400 meters relay with team mates Kibet Boit, Seraphino Antao, and Samuel Chemweno.

Bartonjo intimates that athletics has changed very much over the years but so many things still remain the same too. Athletics, he says, has always called for great sacrifice and self discipline. “I used to get up as early as four in the morning to train, although training in our time was not as sophisticated as it is today. We had no coaches. It was personal initiative to train.” He recalls that running was an armature affair and all deals were struck by the Kenya Armature Athletics Association on behalf of the athletes, which meant that they could not benefit directly from their sweat. He adds that the only things they could get as reward were utencils, blankets and a promotion at work. Bartonjo however notes that it was a good thing the government at least thought of giving the educated athletes good jobs. 

Good Shepherd: Stephen Bartonjo Rotich in his home in Drys, Uasin Gishu County. 

Bartonjo is very happy for the current crop of athletes because of the advances made in running that allows them to go professional in their careers, handing them the chance to make money and benefit directly from their effort and sweat. He however says that the Government and Athletics Management bodies should formulate ways of giving athletes sound advice and support in available investment options so that the benefits accruing from athletics can be consolidated to be lasting legacies in the regions.

 

Bartonjo Rotich did not join the armed forces like many of his colleagues. He headed the Kenya Armature Athletics Association (KAAA) from 1968 to 1972. He served in his other career as an administrator, discharging his duties in Muranga, Homa Bay and Nakuru as a District Assistant. In 1964, he rose to be the assistant Civil Secretary and thereafter to the position of Regional Government Agent posted to Lodwar in Turkana and later to Kisumu. The system of Government in the 60s was Federal. He was also one time chairman of several Boards including Irrigation Board, Cotton Lint Board and Horticulture Development Board, and the Kenya Airports Authority. Bartonjo served in KENATCO and in Brook Bond in different capacities.

As a former athletics and government administrator, Bartonjo says there is a need for investment in sports facilities and the creation of a national system that will nurture talented sports men and women from as early as age 10. Bartonjo is confident that in so doing, this country will produce not only long distance track stars but also world beating sports persons in short races and events like boxing, swimming, shot put, Javelin and other field disciplines. “The old athletes who are fathers of athletics in Kenya should be given recognition and reward even as motivation to the young and upcoming runners, that they will also be taken care of and remembered in retirement.” He says that former athletes should even be honored in non monetary terms like streets being named after them and monuments erected in their memory.

Mzee Bartonjo is married and blessed with children and currently lives in Drys Farm in Uasin-Gishu County where he does farming and manages his developed properties in the area.