Barnaba Korir

Africa has never been short of talent. What we need now is to build the environment in which that talent can thrive.

We must look inward.More competitions must happen on African soil. More opportunities must be created for our young athletes. We must build stronger infrastructure and a competitive athletics calendar that gives our talent room to grow.

We cannot always wait for Europe or America to build the biggest stages. We have to build our own. Then invite the world to Africa.
Dakar 2026 is an important beginning. The first Youth Olympic Games on African soil should leave a legacy that goes beyond medals , better facilities, stronger systems, trained officials and greater opportunities for the next generation.
Africa has the talent. Now we must build the stage.

At a Diamond League final stop before the Brussels finale, where sprint records were shattered and the world’s best raised the bar, Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a world-leading 1:41.76 to win the 800m, while Faith Cherotich claimed victory in the 3000m Steeplechase.

Special recognition to Doris Lemngole, the US-based student-athlete, who finished second in the steeplechase, and Phanuel Koech, who was second in the 1500m.

We also salute Julius Yego, Wyclife Kinyamal and Timothy Cheruiyot for flying the Kenyan flag on the Diamond League stage.

Congratulations, Team Kenya. Brussels awaits!

I congratulate our young athletes for a strong showing in today’s ANOCA Zone V athletics programme in Nairobi.

Kenya finished with four gold and two silver medals. Enock Tuitoek won boys’ 3000m gold, Purity Munyalo claimed girls’ triple jump gold, David Kapaiko took boys’ 800m gold and Anthony Lemoshir secured boys’ 100m gold. Millicent Jepkonga added silver in the girls’ 1500m, while Peter Mwaura won silver in the boys’ 400m.

These results demonstrate what is possible when young talent is identified and given the right opportunities. As Athletics Kenya continues to invest in youth development, this progress is further encouraged by the Government’s recent commitment through the Ministry of Sports to expand the Athletics Kenya Junior Holiday Camps.

As NOC-K First Vice President and Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director, I believe platforms such as ANOCA are essential in preparing our young athletes for international competition and, ultimately, Dakar 2026.

Congratulations to all medalists and participants from across Zone V. The medals are important, but building a strong pathway for the champions of tomorrow matters even more.

The journey to Dakar starts here.

Athletics at the ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games has begun with exciting performances, bringing together young athletes from across the region to compete, learn and gain valuable international experience.

I congratulate all the athletes who have taken to the track and field, as well as their coaches and team officials, for their commitment and competitive spirit.

For Kenya, I am particularly pleased to congratulate Bramwel Chasala, Purity Munyalo and Wilson Chepkwech on their gold medals, with Cecilia Njeri, Winnie Jepchumba and Tabitha Wanjiru Mwaniki also securing podium finishes.

These Games are about more than medals. They provide an important platform for young athletes to compete, gain experience and build towards the senior international stage.

I commend everyone contributing to these Games and encourage our young athletes to embrace the opportunity.

Today’s competitors are tomorrow’s champions. Let us continue building the pathways and support they need to reach their full potential.

The official opening of the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games carried an important message: we must nurture talent while building integrity.

The Government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting integrity in sport and strengthening regional cooperation is an important step towards a stronger future for African sport.

And by NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki and the ANOCA Zone 5 President DonaldvRukare reinforcing this call, the need for stronger pathways for young athletes to develop, compete and reach the highest level was underscored.

As someone involved in youth development, I believe this is the direction our sport must take.

Medals matter, but the values behind those medals matter even more.

With 11 nations represented in Nairobi, these Games show what regional cooperation can achieve. Our responsibility is to give these young athletes the opportunities, values and support to build a lasting future in sport.

The champions of tomorrow are competing in Nairobi today.

As we put the final preparations in place for the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games at Kenyatta University, I am encouraged by the commitment and readiness I have seen from our athletes and technical teams.

Kenya’s young sportsmen and women performed strongly at the last Games in Luanda, Angola, where athletics contributed significantly to our medal haul. We now have an opportunity to build on that performance and give our supporters more to celebrate on home soil.

For us, these Games are about more than medals. They are an important platform to identify, develop and test the young talent that will form the backbone of Kenya’s future international teams.

As we look ahead to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, we must use this opportunity to identify a formidable generation capable of representing Kenya with pride and excellence.

The future of Kenyan athletics is here. Let the Games begin.

I am confident that Kenya has a strong chance of winning the bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, backed by the full commitment of the Kenyan government and the President’s assurance of support. The ongoing improvement of Kasarani and other infrastructure gives us confidence that Kenya is better prepared this time to deliver a world-class championship.

Our bigger responsibility, however, is to build the next generation. The strong performance of our junior team at the recent World Under-20 Championships in Oregon is a reflection of the investment we are making through camps, schools, competitions and coach development. We are not planning only for tomorrow, we are preparing athletes for the next World Championships, Los Angeles 2028 and ultimately the 2032 Olympics, ensuring a smooth transition from youth to junior and senior level.

As we reward athletes for bringing glory to the country, discipline and responsibility must go hand in hand with success. Athletes must work, earn their rewards through performance, and learn to save and invest for their future. Our goal is not simply to produce champions today, but to build an athletics system that develops, rewards and secures champions for generations to come.

We congratulate Emmanuel Wanyonyi on his impressive victory in the men’s 800m at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he fought hard in the home straight to secure the win.

We also congratulate Faith Cherotich for her fighting second-place finish in the 3000m steeplechase, with Doris Lemngole finishing a strong fourth.

Well done, Team Kenya.

Kenya is ready

‘Kenya has what it takes to host 2029 World Athletics Championships,’ Korir He says the lack of adequate infrastructure for sprinters and field-event athletes remains a challenge, despite Kenya’s growing potential in those disciplines.