Athletics Kenya has received a significant boost from KCB, which has announced a Sh8 million sponsorship to help stage two crucial athletics events in 2025.
The funding is expected to support both the Kenya National Athletics Championships, set for June 25–27, 2025, in Nairobi, and the World Athletics Championships trials, scheduled for August 1–2, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium.
KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo, while speaking during the unveiling of the sponsorship in Nairobioutlined the bank’s belief in the strength of Kenya’s athletes and its sports structures.
“Today's sponsorship reflects our deep belief in two things. First, in the extraordinary talent of Kenyan athletes who consistently prove themselves as world beaters, and second, in the robust systems that identify and nurture this talent,” she said.
She went on to highlight the wider impact of the partnership.
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“Our partnership with Athletics Kenya (AK) is about the power of sport to unite our national spirit and ignite the dreams of millions of young Kenyans who intend to pursue their sporting ambitions,” she added.
According to KCB, Sh4 million of the total sponsorship will go towards the national championships.
The event will bring together both top-tier and emerging athletes competing for titles, medals, trophies, and prize money.
The remaining Sh4 million will fund the trials, where athletes will vie for places on the Kenyan team that will represent the country at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13–21, 2025.
The global event is expected to draw more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, with Tokyo becoming the first Asian city to host the competition twice, having first done so in 1991.
Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei welcomed the sponsorship, describing it as timely and essential for preparations.
"In my years at the helm of Kenyan athletics, I have seen how strategic partnerships like this one with KCB create champions," Tuwei said.
"This Sh8 million injection comes at a critical juncture as we prepare our athletes for Tokyo 2025. More than financial support, it represents the stability and belief we need to maintain our edge in global competitions while developing the next generation of champions."
KCB noted that the sponsorship forms part of its long-term contribution to sports in Kenya.
The bank has so far invested over Sh3 billion across various disciplines — including football, rugby, volleyball, motorsports, chess, and golf — in the last 20 years as part of its efforts to promote sports development, foster community growth, and strengthen national pride.
