Grand welcome for Mr. America Meshack Ochieng in Eldoret

US-based Kenyan bodybuilding star Meshack Ochieng received a warm welcome in Eldoret as he returned home two months after being crowned the prestigious Mr America Bodybuilding Champion.

The five foot and three inches tall Ochieng, who weighs 80 kilogrammes, has been in the country for a few days now, but landed in Eldoret on Friday, where he's scheduled to conduct a session with local bodybuilders on various topics at Rupa'z fun and fitness center on Saturday.

Some of the areas he will cover include nutrition talk, posing and supplementation.

In a past interview with Mozzart Sport, the native of Homabay County, said he had achieved what he wanted to achieve in the bodybuilding world, but was open to nurturing new talents. He advised against using steroids.

"As a natural bodybuilding athlete, I want to be a role model to not only Kenyan athletes, but to all across the world. Most people, especially in Kenya or Africa only know the big guys. There is a stage you can’t pass as a natural bodybuilder and look like those big guys without using growth hormones and steroids. Bodybuilding is divided into two; natural and unnatural bodybuilding.

"I belong to the natural side, meaning I have to only use healthy supplements and normal food to acquire the look I have. I have to get tested before I compete and even if I win cash, I won’t get paid until the results come negative. Even though you’re allowed to use supplements, some do contain banned substances so you have to be careful about what’s going into your system.

Meshack Ochieng: From class eight dropout to prestigious Mr America Bodybuilding Champion

"My advice to upcoming athletes, please stay away from steroids. Train smart all the time, not with ego. Injury is the worst thing for any sports person so train with care. I’m lucky not to have any injury since I started lifting weights."

Despite his immense success, Ochieng has kept in touch with his roots, helping to nurture new bodybuilders and sponsoring competitions in Kenya.

"I’ve done a lot in terms of nurturing others to compete. The current Mr. East Africa Rashid Issa is someone I convinced to start bodybuilding. There are many others that I coach and help here and there to realize their dreams. Even though there’s no good federation in Kenya right now, the sport has grown so much because of people like Evelyn Owalla, Rashid Issa and me. We have so many females now joining the fitness industry and that is what makes me happy. I help sponsor some shows in Kenya each year," he said.