The sixth edition of Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold Series slated for Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on May 31 has attracted 189 athletes from across the globe.
Yesterday, the Kenyan government pumped in Sh300 million to support the event as Absa Bank Kenya comes in with Sh60 million as title sponsors for the 2025 edition of the championship.
World 800m women’s champion Mary Moraa and men’s 100m continental record holder Ferdinand Omanyala are expected to spearhead Kenya’s assault in the looming showdown.
The duo will lead other 53 Kenyan athletes in the prestigious global showpiece, where neighbours Ethiopia have entered a strong contingent of 31 participants.
World Indoor women’s 60m dash champion Kambundji Mujinga of Switzerland, who will make her maiden appearance in the athletics extravaganza, is among the star-studded cast from outside Africa who will be at Ulinzi to look for glory.
Other world beaters in the mix expected to pump adrenaline in the challenge include Jerome Blake (Canada), Bayanda Walaza (South Africa), Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia), Filipo Tortu (Italy), Alana Reid (Jamaica), Kennedy Lacham (Australia) and Elijah Hall (US), among others.
Meet Tour director Barnaba Korir hailed the growth of the championship, saying its first edition, held at the historic Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi in 2020, is what inspired Kenya’s qualification for three sprint events at the forthcoming World Championship in Tokyo, Japan, slated for September.
“Kip Keino Classic is growing bigger and better. Lots of athletes are interested in this race because Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a National Park,” Korir told a packed hall during the launch of the 2025 edition of the challenge yesterday in Nairobi.
“I’m confident this event will catapult Kenya to greater heights, including being awarded more international championships by World Athletics, apart from the World U18 and World U20 events we hosted in 2017 and 2020,” Korir stated.
Mwihaki Wachira, the Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Absa Bank Kenya, indicated they are proud of their six-year relationship with the championship as they renewed their partnership for this season with Sh60 million.
Sport Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, buttressed Wachira’s sentiments, saying Kenya is expecting over 10,000 spectators at the upcoming event.
“We have decided to move this event to Ulinzi Complex because of the ongoing works at Nyayo National Stadium,” Mvurya said.
Ochieng Oyugi
| May 21, 2025