NAIROBI, September 15, 2008 (AFP) - The Kenyan athletics board Monday urged the government to protect its athletes after the home of Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru was raided.

Armed robbers over the weekend raided Wanjiru's his rural home in Nyahururu, 190 kilometres north of Nairobi and demanded his prize money, but none was hurt.

Athletics Kenya (AK) chief Isaiah Kiplagat said athletes were targets because because of money they earned from the Beijing Olympics and the World athletics series.

'It is becoming increasingly worrying that people are hunting down these athletes,' he told reporters.

'I have written the police commissioner to ensure that these athletes are protected. I am also asking the athletes not to expose themselves to such attacks.'

Kenyans athletes are among the highest paid sportsmen in the world.

Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo joined the elite list of high-earners when she won the one-million dollar jackpot in the European Grand Prix.