Ferdinand Omanyala at the Commonwealth Games trials/ TEDDY MULEI
Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei has challenged the newly selected 52-member squad representing the country at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, to return home with a bumper haul of medals.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2. Following three days of fierce competition and high-stakes duels at the national trials, AK unveiled the formidable team over the weekend to spearhead the country's campaign.
Tuwei expressed immense confidence in the selection, stating he was highly satisfied with the caliber of athletes chosen to fly the Kenyan flag.
"This is the team which we have selected and tasked with flying Kenya's flag. We wish them the very best of luck as they go to Scotland," Tuwei said, urging them to rise to the occasion on the global stage. "Let us see good performances in Glasgow and, of course, many medals."
At the previous edition of the Games in Birmingham in 2022, Kenya amassed 21 medals, with athletics accounting for 20 of them.
The gold medalists from that spectacular run included Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala in the 100m, Jackline Chepkoech and Abraham Kibiwot in the women's and men's steeplechase, Mary Moraa and Wyclife Kinyamal in the women's and men's 800m, and Beatrice Chebet in the 5,000m.
Among the headline acts for the 2026 edition is the sprint king Omanyala, who returns determined to successfully defend the 100m crown he captured in Birmingham four years ago.
In that race, Omanyala stormed to gold in 10.02 seconds, finishing ahead of South Africa's Akani Simbine and Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon.
Also expected to carry Kenya's hopes is world 800m champion Lilian Odira. The three-time national champion will be eager to add the coveted Commonwealth title to her rapidly expanding trophy cabinet.
Meanwhile, former world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot appears to have rediscovered his trademark rhythm and will be chasing his first Commonwealth gold after settling for silver at both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
The star-studded squad also features African Championships gold medalists Kelvin Loti in the 800m and Diana Wanza in the 10,000m, national decathlon record holder Edwin Too, nine-time national hammer throw champion Dominic Abunda, and world 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Edmund Serem.
Tuwei revealed that the squad has officially been handed over to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), which will now oversee the team's preparations and management through to the conclusion of the Games. He urged the appointed coaching staff to take excellent care of the athletes during this final stretch.
Meanwhile, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya lauded the selection process, describing the trials as transparent, inclusive, and fair to all regions. On behalf of the government, Mvurya congratulated both the selected athletes and all those who participated in the fiercely contested championships. He reaffirmed the state's total commitment to supporting Team Kenya both at home and in Scotland.
Mvurya also revealed that the athletes will undergo rigorous anti-doping screening to safeguard the integrity of Kenya's performances on the global stage. He noted that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) will conduct extensive testing for all selected team members to ensure that when Kenya wins, they win clean.
Team Kenya for the 2026 Commonwealth Games
100m women
Millicent Ndoro
100m men
Ferdinand Omanyala
Meshack Babu
Mark Otieno
100m hurdles women
Rukia Nusra
200m men
Zablon Ekwam
Elkana Sabila
400m women
Mercy Oketch
Mercy Chebet
Nancy Jepkosgei
400m men
Kelvin Tonui
Boniface Mweresa
George Mutinda
400m hurldes women
Vanice Kerubo
400m hurdles men
Kipkorir Kiprotich
800m women
Lilian Odira
Janet Amimo
Vivian Chebet
800m men
Wyclife Kinyamal
Kelvin Loti
Nicholas Kiplagat
One Mile women
Naomi Korir
Teresiah Gateri
Rosemary Longisa
One Mile men
Timothy Cheruiyot
Reynold Cheruiyot
Brian Komen
3,000m steeplechase women
Celestine Biwott
Faith Cherotich
3,000m steeplechase men
Simon Koech
Edmund Serem
Leonard Bett
5,000m women
Caroline Nyaga
Rebecca Mwangi
5,000m men
Mathew Kipsang
Cornelius Kemboi
Andrew Kiptoo
10,000m women
Diana Wanza
Miriam Chebet
10,000m men
Ishmael Rokitto
Edwin Kurgat
Daniel Ebenyo
Race walk men
Stephen Ndangiri
Race walk women
Sylvia Kemboi
High Jump men
Asbel Kiprop
Long Jump women
Faith Kipsang
Triple Jump men
Kevin Kemboi
Hammer men
Dominic Abunda
Shot put women
Belinda Oburu
Javelin women
Irene Jepkemboi
Javelin men
Julius Yego
Decathlon
Edwin Too
