Kingi to enrol for martial arts lessons

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTRATING

Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi’s bodyguard Harrison Maitha (left), who was killed in the attack at a meeting in Kilifi County. Photo/GEORGE KIKAMI  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By ROBERT NYAGAH
Posted  Sunday, October 7  2012 at  10:22

IN SUMMARY

• Kingi says he'll pursue martial arts

SHARE THIS STORY

Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi, whose bodyguard was killed last week by armed assailants at a political rally in Mtwapa, Kilifi County has vowed to register for Karate lessons to learn combat and self-defence skills. Read (Four dead, minister escapes injury in Mtwapa campaign tour)

This comes at a time when the Kenya Karate Federation (KKF) is challenging politicians Kenya to join martial arts and learn basic skills of self-defence.

The KKF has been campaigning to have Karate spread across the country to promote self control, discipline and to provide beneficiaries with self-defence skills.
KKF chairman Caleb Atemi is keen to have martial arts be adopted from primary school level to higher institutions including the workplace.

“Anyone that attempts to attack a trained Karateka with a panga like the gang which attacked the minister’s bodyguard would be a big joke. He would be disarmed in a second and that would reduce the amount of injuries to the targets. A panga is a big joke to well trained and alert people,” said Atemi.

While addressing sports personalities that congregated for the annual Inter-Counties Karate tournament at the Watamu Sports Centre in Kilifi County over the weekend, Mr Kingi said the martial arts skills would have come in handy and he would have saved his bodyguard.

“If I had continued with Karate training, which I registered for many years ago but only attended a few lessons, I am sure I would have saved the life of my bodyguard. I would have protected myself confidently. I must resume karate lessons next week,” he said.

Malindi OCPD Keprono Langat also said that martial arts was critical for members of the police force especially during the campaign and election period.

“Karate is a high discipline sport. Apart from the health and physical benefits, it is a sport that all of us, especially those mandated to protect people while maintaining law and order should learn. Whatever happened to Waziri recently would have been contained,” said Langat.