Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei has challenged Kenya’s 56-strong World Championships squad to draw inspiration from Harambee Stars’ fairytale run at the CHAN, insisting that the same grit can propel them to glory in Tokyo.
The Stars defied the odds to storm the CHAN quarterfinals before bowing out to Madagascar, a journey Tuwei says should light a fire in the athletics camp. "We congratulate Harambee Stare for putting this country at a level it has never been before."
"As we are celebrating Harambee Stars' performance, now you need to challenge yourselves and say what are you to do, where are you going to position this country in Tokyo?" Tuwei said.
The AK boss reminded the athletes of Kenya’s proud record on the global stage, urging them to keep up the same fighting spirit. "Overall, we are number two; the best you can do is put the country in position one. The worst you can do is to maintain the number two."
Kenya’s love affair with the World Athletics Championships began in Helsinki, Finland, in 1983, a modest debut that saw a 21-strong contingent (20 men and one woman) compete across 11 events, albeit without tasting podium success. But just four years later, in Rome 1987, Kenya roared onto the medal table, hauling in three gold medals to finish fifth in the standings.
Since that breakthrough, the East African powerhouse has cemented its status as a track and field juggernaut, amassing an impressive 171 medals (65 gold, 58 silver, and 48 bronze) to sit second on the all-time medal standings, only behind the USA’s towering haul of 443.
Kenya’s finest hour came at the Beijing 2015 Championships, where a record 16 medals (seven gold, six silver, three bronze) saw the country top the world. Tuwei also invoked history, pointing to Tokyo as hallowed ground for Kenyan athletics. "Tokyo is where we got our first medal in 1964 at the Olympics. We have a lot of history in Tokyo."
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Wilson Kiprugut delivered Kenya's first Olympic medal after clinching bronze in the men's 800m. He urged athletes to sharpen their form with the guidance of their coaches, but also to take personal responsibility in fine-tuning their craft. "I hope and believe that the coaches have prepared you well."
"You also have to prepare yourselves because coaches can only assist you up to a certain level. So the rest is up to you to sharpen yourself," he noted.
The athletes were also promised unwavering support in Tokyo, both from the government and Kenyan fans. "We will be there to support you, even though the CS has confirmed to us that he will be there. There will also be other Kenyan's in Tokyo to support you," Tuwei added.
Tuwei thanked Betika, who has been instrumental in fine-tuning the athletes' form throughout the Bingwafest tournament. "I want to thank Betika for the support they have given us. Without sponsors and partners, we would not be here. They have come out strongly to support the teams financially and also through the Bingwafest, which has been instrumental in sharpening the athletes."
The athletes and coaches heading to Tokyo also received a big shot in the arm from Betika, which gave the team Sh25,000. "We will be giving the team to Tokyo, both athletes and coaches, a token of Sh25,000 as you travel to Tokyo," said Betika CEO Mutua Mutava.
He further added that the betting firm is in talks with AK for a partnership to prepare Team Kenya for the 2028 LA Olympics. "We have also launched a partnership with AK to prepare the nation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games," Mutava said.
