NAIROBI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's top athletes have pledged to honor the national call and compete at the Africa Athletics Championships in Nigeria in August.

This follows an outcry after several skipped the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in Australia.

Kenya failed to match it's Glasgow Commonwealth Games performance set in 2014.

World 5,000m champion, Hellen Obiri has called on her colleagues return to the national team and compete in continental competition.

"To compete for Kenya is an honour many don't get. There are issues about compensation and bonus payments, but it is important every top athlete feels the need to represent his/her country," she said.

Obiri said she will use the Diamond League to try and break the world record in the 5,000m race. "I want to lower my personal best this season and perhaps attempt to break the world record."

She holds a personal best time of 14:18.37 set in Rome last year, which is the fifth fastest time ever in the 5,000m event.