NAIROBI, September 13, 2008 (AFP) - Robbers armed with machetes and guns raided the home of Kenya's Olympic marathon gold medallist Samuel Wanjiru and demanded money, police said on Saturday.

Two weeks after the athlete's victorious return from Beijing, seven thugs stormed Wanjiru's home in the central town of Nyahururu and demanded a share of his Olympics cash reward.

The athlete and his family were home at the time of the attack but nobody was injured, police said.

'When they were told there was no money, they ransacked the house for over half an hour and then left. No one was injured,' Nyahururu police boss Charles Wasike told AFP.

'We have launched investigations and we are looking for the thugs. No suspect has been arrested,' he added.

The government of Kenya had promised around 30,000 dollars in cash rewards to Beijing gold medallists. Ironically, athletes earn substantially more with high finishes in other races on the annual athletics circuit.