The Kenya Prisons Service has promoted middle-distance
runner Lillian Odira to the rank of Sergeant after her historic performance at
the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Odira broke the championship record that had stood for more
than four decades.
Odira stunned the world on September 20 by clocking a
blistering time in the women’s 800 metres, erasing a 43-year-old world record
and cementing her place among the greatest athletes in history.
Her performance not only earned her a gold medal but also
reaffirmed Kenya’s dominance in middle-distance running.
The promotion was officially announced on Friday during the
Prisons Service Flag Returning Ceremony at the Kenya Prisons Headquarters in
Nairobi.
Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick Aranduh, CBS,
presided over the event and hailed Odira for her extraordinary feat.
“Sergeant Lillian Odira has brought immense pride and honour
to the Kenya Prisons Service and to the nation of Kenya. Her discipline,
commitment and resilience embody the values of this Service,” Aranduh said.
The Commissioner General also praised Deputy Commissioner
General Nicholas Maswai, MBS, who led the Kenyan Prisons athletics contingent
to Tokyo.
He noted that the success of athletes like Odira reflects
the Service’s continued investment in nurturing talent within its ranks.
Special recognition was also extended to Superintendent
Jacinta Muraguri, a retired athletics champion and Odira’s coach.
Aranduh described her mentorship as a decisive factor in
Odira’s world-beating performance.
“Superintendent Muraguri’s guidance was instrumental in
shaping Odira’s journey to global glory. This is a reminder that behind every
champion is a dedicated coach who sacrifices and invests in the athlete’s
success,” he added.
Odira’s achievement is not only significant for athletics
but also for the Kenya Prisons Service, which has for decades produced some of
the country’s top sports personalities.
Many renowned athletes, particularly in athletics and
volleyball, have risen from the Prisons ranks to represent Kenya on the
international stage.
The new Sergeant, who joined the Prisons Service as a
constable, has steadily built her reputation through regional and national
competitions.
Her record-breaking run in Tokyo marks the highest point of
her career so far, placing her in the global spotlight.
Officials at the ceremony reaffirmed the Service’s
commitment to supporting its sportsmen and women, saying such achievements
highlight the role of disciplined forces in advancing Kenya’s sporting
heritage.
As Odira takes up her new role as Sergeant, her story is
expected to inspire not only fellow officers but also young athletes across the
country who look up to her as a role model.
