From left: Athletes Hellen Syombua, Bonface Mweresa, Mary Moraa and Wiseman Were during KCB Foundation's partnership with Athletics Kenya at Kencon House in Nairobi, on June 24, 2025
KCB Bank has unveiled Sh8 million sponsorship for Athletics Kenya’s programmes starting with the three-day National Athletics Championships that begins today at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Langata in Nairobi.
KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo yesterday disclosed that Sh4 million will be for the National Championships while a similar amount will be channelled to the Kenyan trials for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for August 1-2.
Meanwhile, World 800m champion Mary Moraa and her cousin Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa have promised a memorable showdown in women’s 800m with Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala laying down the gauntlet in 100m and 200m at the nationals.
Kenya's Mary Moraa celebrates after winning women's 800 metres race during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 20, 2024.
Kip Keino Classic champions Wiseman Were (400m hurdles) and Mercy Oketch (400m) look untouchable in their respective races while Africa Military Games 400m champion Boniface Mweresa is spoiling for a fight in the men’s one-lap race.
Njonjo said during the sponsorship announcement that the return of KCB to athletics after almost a decade, will further deepen their long-standing investment in sports, spanning over 20 years.
The bank has spent close to Sh3 billion over the period to develop sports like football, volleyball, rugby, chess, golf, motorsports and athletics.
Njonjo said that they want to continue being part of the country’s rich athletics legacy by helping Athletics Kenya and athletes prepare for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya celebrates after winning heat 2 in the 100m Men Round 1 at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on August 03, 2024
“Our partnership reflects our deep belief and social conviction that we have in the extraordinary talent of Kenyan athletes who consistently prove themselves as world beaters, and the robust systems that identify and nurture this talent,” said Njonjo.
He said that their partnership with Athletics Kenya is about the power of sport to unite and ignite the dreams of millions of young Kenyans who intend to pursue their sporting ambitions.
Njonjo revealed that the KCB Foundation has given full scholarships to 50 boys and girls in high school for both education and athletics for a period of four years.
Most of the students in Transcend Academy in Trans Nzoia owned by former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir.
“These young men and women are a testament of the potential they have and we must help them unlock their greatness,” said Njonjo, who was accompanied by KCB Head of Premium Banking, Simon Halonda.
“The sponsorship comes at a critical juncture as we prepare our athletes for Tokyo World Championships 2025,” said Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei.
KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo (left) hands over the partnership relay button to Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei to symbolise the Sh8m partnership agreement between KCB Bank and the sports body at Kencom House, Nairobi on June 24, 2025.
The AK boss, who was accompanied by his deputy Paul Mutwii and Athletics Kenya marketing committee chairman Abraham Mutai said KCB’s support represented the stability and belief they needed to maintain their edge in global competitions while developing the next generation of champions.
“This forms part of my preparations for my world title defence,” said Mary Moraa, who is keen on reclaiming the national title from reigning Kip Keino Classic champion Lilian Odira.
Moraa will compete in 800m, women’s 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relays.
Sarah Moraa, who finished second last year at the nationals behind Odira, kept her cards close to her chest.
"It's a process...we start at the heats then final," she simply said.
“I am feeling good and ready to recapture the titles,” said Omanyala, who won both the national 100m and 200m titles last in 2022 and defended the 100m in 2023 in 9.96 seconds, becoming the first athlete to run sub-10 seconds in the final at the nationals.
Were said he hoped to get it right as he also yearned to recapture the title after missing last year's nationals.
"Nothing to worry about since I believe in myself. Let my fans expect something different," said Were, who retained his Kip Keino Classic title in a personal best time of 48.37 that was inside the World Championships mark.
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