National athletics coach Julius Kirwa has revealed that Athletics Kenya is crafting a bold programme to shield young male athletes from the lure of endless road races, a move he believes is key to reviving Kenya’s male fading firepower on the global stage.
Kirwa’s call comes on the back of the men’s underwhelming show at the just-concluded Tokyo World Championships, where only one male athlete (Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 800m) struck gold for the country.
In sharp contrast, Kenya’s women reigned supreme, sweeping all distance gold medals from 800m to the Marathon. Faith Kipyegon delivered gold in the 1,500m, Beatrice Chebet dazzled in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Faith Cherotich dominated the steeplechase, Lilian Odira stormed to 800m glory, and Peres Jepchirchir sealed it with a marathon triumph.
On the men’s side, the only other medals came via Edmund Serem (steeplechase) and Reynold Cheruiyot (1,500m), who both settled for bronze.
Speaking after receiving the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK)/Betika Coach of the Month award for September, Kirwa admitted the decline of the Kenyan male athlete has become a deep concern.
“The performance of male athletes is really hitting us as a federation,” Kirwa said.
He lamented that many young boys are prematurely venturing into road racing, sacrificing their track potential far too early.
“Our athletes are going to the roads at very young ages of 10 to 20 years, which they are not supposed to do,” he stressed.
Kirwa confirmed that coaches are now in talks with the federation to enforce measures that protect rising male stars from early burnout.
“We have told the federation there’s no need for a young athlete to go straight into a 21km race.
He lamented that once the athletes go to the roads, they don't return to the track. "Once you hit the roads, it’s almost impossible to return to the track. The tarmac is not the same,” he explained.
He added that President William Ruto himself has challenged the federation to raise the standards of male athletes and restore their once-feared dominance.
“With this strategic plan, we want to bring back glory for our male athletes. We must revive the boy-child on the global front,” he declared.
Kenya’s men have historically been the backbone of the nation’s success at the World Championships.
At the peak of Kenya's athletic powers in Beijing 2015, they delivered five of the country’s seven gold medals.
But the decline has been stark.
At the 2023 Budapest World Championships, for the first time in decades, no male athlete struck gold. Kenya left Hungary with just three titles—all from the women: Kipyegon (1,500m and 5,000m) and Mary Moraa (800m).
With a deliberate focus on protecting young talent from the lure of road races, Kirwa believes the men’s renaissance can begin.
"We want to bring back glory for our male athletes, and we will start with the cross country from next year, which you shall all bare witness to," he added.
