With the clock ticking towards the Kip Keino Classic World Athletics Continental Tour Gold on May 31, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has said it's a race against time to get the Ulinzi Sports Complex sanctioned and competition-ready.
Mvurya confirmed the event will be staged at the military facility, marking a dramatic shift from the initial plan to host the event at Nyayo Stadium.
Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Mvurya said Nyayo's renovation works will not be over in 10 days, thus the need for an alternative venue.
"Initially, this event was scheduled to take place at the Nyayo Stadium, but I want to announce that we will have it at Ulinzi," said Mvurya. "We are doing an upgrade at Nyayo and laying a new tartan track."
Ulinzi is being upgraded to meet World Athletics standards ahead of the global showpiece.
"Ulinzi meets the standards set, and where standards have not been met, they will be finalised by Saturday. There is no need for panic," he noted.
A total of 10,000 spectators are expected, with Mvurya calling on athletes to put their best foot forward.
"We expect 10,000 spectators, which is a big number. When you come to the facility, please avoid vandalism," he said.
"We are not only hosting, but we are projecting to win and win in a good way. I want to take this opportunity to wish all Kenyan athletes the best as they compete."
The government has committed Sh300 million towards the event.
"I want to confirm that the ministry has committed Sh300 million for this event. This is to tell everybody that sporting activities are as serious as any other investment in our country," Mvurya said.
Absa Bank, the official sponsor, has pumped in an additional Sh60 million.
“We are proud to support the Kip Keino Classic. It celebrates Kenyan identity and gives our athletes a world-class platform,” said Absa’s director of marketing and corporate affairs, Mwihaki Wachira.
Mvurya hailed Absa’s consistency, noting the private sector’s key role in nurturing athletics talent in Kenya.
"I want to thank Absa for remaining consistent in support of AK and this event. As a private sector, you are playing a vital role in nurturing talent," he said.
Event Director Barnaba Korir confirmed 189 athletes have registered for this year’s edition, with Ethiopia leading the foreign entries with 31 athletes.
Kenya will field 59 athletes across the core, discretionary and national events.
"This year is going to be as big as last year. Even though we have so many competitions going on, there is still a lot of interest from athletes globally," he said.
"This year, we have 189 total athletes. For national events, we chose 53 Kenyans, and as for the international athletes, Ethiopia has the biggest number with 31."
"Continental tours have three events, core, discretionary and the national event — where the host country gives its national athletes a platform to perform," he said.
Among the headline acts, Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, will square off against Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, the World Indoor 60m silver medallist, in what promises to be a thrilling 100m sprint duel.
In the javelin, the 2015 world champion Julius Yego will take on 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and Grenada's Olympic bronze medallist Anderson Peters.
Swiss sprint queen Mujinga Kambundji, the 2019 world 200m bronze medallist, is expected to light up the women’s sprints.
World Under-20 800m champion Sarah Moraa will flex muscles with Shafiqua Maloney, the Saint Vincent national record holder.
