By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (September 4^th 2025)

Vincent Suter Chemweno – The Compassion of the VAA

We have highlighted the plight of Vincent Suter Chemweno recently (see The Forgotten Champion – The Vincent Suter Chemweno Conundrum at https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2025/09/06/the-forgotten-champion-the-vincent-suter-chemweno-conundrum/, The Forgotten Champion – Solution of the Vincent Suter Chemweno Conundrum (Part One) at https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2025/09/07/the-forgotten-champion-solution-of-the-vincent-suter-chemweno-conundrum-part-one/ and The Forgotten Champion – Solution of the Vincent Suter Chemweno Conundrum (Part Two) at https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2025/09/08/the-forgotten-champion-solution-of-the-vincent-suter-chemweno-conundrum-part-two/).

The Veteran Athletes Association (VAA) of Kenya identified Suter Chemweno as a member in urgent need of help. Led by its Organizing Secretary, former Marathon runner Simon Biwott, it took responsibility to assist the former 800 metres runner who is believed to be the last survivor of the Colony (or Protectorate) of Kenya’s team that participated in the Empire and Commonwealth Games of 1958, which took place in Cardiff.

Suter Chemweno, who is 89-years-old, had obvious medical and care issues and no means to get them addressed. The VAA stepped in. They decided to pay for his medical insurance to ensure that his health would be catered for while a plan for his care was developed.

At its Converse Meeting the VAA announced its programme for the Welfare of Veteran Athletes.

• Provision of sustainable quality medical care
• Empowerment programmes through training and resource support
• Building of sports gallery to preserve won trophies, medals and documented athletics success stories (that will include leasing these and other memorabilia from the veteran athletes or their families if they are deceased)
• Promoting running with legends (sponsored fun runs) to ensure sustainability of the project
• Establish a veteran support fund to cater for their care requirements

The Face of VAA Welfare

Suter Chemweno was chosen to be the first recipient and Face of the VAA’s Welfare Programme. It began yesterday when the VAA gave me the honour of visiting him with former athletes, Susan Sirna and Francis Kipkoech Bowen, along with Dr Solomon Mangira Kipkosgei and Ezekiel Leley of Koitaleel Samoei University College to present him with a cheque for 7200 KES (Kenya Shillings) which will ensure that he has medical cover for a year.

That will ensure that he has medicines that he needs.

The VAA decided that he will receive a medical assessment to determine his current needs. It will also be the basis of a care plan for him. The VAA will seek support to ensure that his care will continue for the rest of his life by delivering a sustainable care plan that is tailored for his needs. Biwott made it clear that Suter Chemweno is to be the first to receive such care not the last.