The 2015 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year yesterday received a Sh3.3m from various sponsors ahead of the event slated for this Friday at the KICC.
Acumen Communications through sports betting arm, mCheza donated Sh3m towards the organisation of the event while Villa Rosa Kempinski contributed Sh300,000 towards the hosting of the yet to be announced celebrity guest.
The hotel will also accord a one-year health club access to the overall winner.
Acumen head of marketing John Seel said the company, despite being in the early stages of operations having launched last month, wants to play a part in celebrating Kenyan athletes now and in the future.
“Our partnership with Soya is very clear, celebrating our men and women who do us proud (in sports),” said Seel.
“We have made a conscious effort to identify, nurture and celebrate talent and when Soya came to us, it was easy to make a decision.”
“We kind of forget our men and women who do us proud— celebrating them when they are winning and nothing more thereafter,” added Seel.
“We want (alongside Soya) to keep celebrating these athletes and ensure everybody gets to know they are doing us proud as a country.”
Brand Kenya board member and former TV journalist Julie Gichuru, without giving details, said they will play a part in Friday’s event.
“The biggest representation this country gets beyond our borders is from our sportsmen and women,” said Gichuru.
“It is time we appreciated them a little bit more and we will be giving our input to Soya ahead of this year’s event.”
Villa Kempinski director of sales Anne Murungi on her part said,
"I would urge management of football entities in Kenya to see how to put things in order so that corporates can be proud coming on board with support."
