The Coca-cola East and Central Africa business on Tuesday announced its list of distinquished citizens from East Africa to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay in Dar-es-salaam on April 13, 2008, Kenya News Agency reported.

The list comprises six distinguished personalities who have excelled in environmental conservation, sports and services towards humanity.

The only African woman to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize award and leading environmentalist professor Wangari Maathai is on the list. The UN-HABITAT Director Dr. Anna Tibajuka is also on the list.

"I am greatly honored for being selected as a torch bearer because for me, sport embodies human unity at its best. It brings people together especially during the Olympics, people are able to put aside their differences albeit for a few weeks. It is this spirit that I would like to see translated into our day to day lives," Tibajuka said.

Also selected to carry the Olympic flame is one of Africa's greatest pioneer athletes, two times Olympic gold medalist and chairman of National Olympic Committee of Kenya, Kipchoge Keino, who is credited with laying the foundation for Kenya to become an athletics powerhouse in the middle and long distance races.

Other torchbearers are Uganda's most famous athlete and women's 3,000 meters steeplechase champion, Dorcus Inzikuru, and Pierre Kakule, an award winning Congolese environmentalist and conservationist who has dedicated his life to the protection of gorillas, and Nathan Kalumbnu, the president of coca-cola east and central African.

Speaking during the unveiling of the list, senior public affairs manager and head of public policy Dr. Nelson Githinji said that each of the torch bearer is a giant in their own right and a trend setter and honored their agreement to take part in the wonderful event.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2008)