Sport in Kenya
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Sport is an important element of Kenyan culture. Various indigenous traditional sports have prevailed in Kenyan culture from its earliest history.[1] Some of the traditional games and sports prevalent in Kenya since antiquity have included wrestling, racing exercises, stick fights, hunting (using spears and arrows), board games, bull fights and dances.[2]
Most modern sports in Kenya owe credit to the British colonisation.[3] Professional teams in form of clubs were organised by colonial British settlers and Asian contractors as early as 1922, before the establishment of formal schools.[4] Sports were introduced in schools in 1925. The syllabus for teaching sport through physical training in schools (extracurricular activity) was produced in 1935.[5] Football[6] and athletics (track and field)[7] respectively were the first sports to be professionally organized.
Today, many sports are popular in Kenya, played both professionally and as recreational physical activities. The most popular sport in Kenya is football. Sports played in Kenya today include
Athletics (track & field and running events)
Athletics (track and field) was one of the two modern sports (together with football) to be formally organized in Kenya. Kenya has regularly produced
Track events
Retired Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion Kipchoge Keino helped usher in Kenya's ongoing distance dynasty 1970s and was followed by Commonwealth Champion Henry Rono's string of world record performances.
Kenya won several medals during the Beijing Olympics, 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze,[9] making it Africa's most successful Nation in the 2008 Olympics. New athletes gained attention, such as Pamela Jelimo, the women's 800m gold medalist who went ahead to win the Golden League jackpot, and Samuel Wanjiru who won the men's marathon.
Field events
Julius Yego became the first Kenyan field athlete to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games when he won the javelin title at the 2014 event in Glasgow (fellow Kenyan John Makaya had taken a bronze in the same event forty years earlier at the 1974 Commonwealths in Christchurch).[10] The following year he took Kenya's first World Championship gold in the field at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, where he set a new Commonwealth record of 92.72m on his way to victory.[11][12]
Cross country
Kenyan runners have dominated the
Only three Kenyan men have won individual world cross country titles in the men's division, and two of them won multiple crowns. John Ngugi became the first man to win the world championship five times (1986–89, 1992). Countryman Paul Tergat became the first man to win five times in a row (1995–1999). Edith Masai won the 4-kilometer women's short race three consecutive times (2003–2004).
Marathons
Runners from Kenya have run seven of the 10 fastest times for 26.2 miles. They have also been among the most consistent winners in the World Marathon Majors: Boston, New York, London, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo. An unusual number of marathon winners are Kalenjin.
Boston Marathon
Ibrahim Hussein won the first of his three Boston Marathon victories in 1988, less than a year after winning the New York City Marathon. Hussein would have back-to-back victories at Boston in 1991–92. Kenyan men broke the tape at the Boston Marathon 20 times since 1988, including 10 times in a row from 1991 to 2000. Kenyan women have 10 victories at Boston, four of them by one woman. The notable winners:
- Cosmas Ndeti, who won three in a row from 1993–95, running a course record 2:07:15 in 1994;
- Moses Tanui, a two-time winner in 1996 and 1998;
- Bill Rodgersthe race's only four-time winners in the men's division;
- Catherine Ndereba, the only four-time winner in the women's open division;
- Geoffrey Mutai, whose 2:03:02 winning time in 2011 is the fastest marathon time ever.
- Rita Jeptoo, who won in 2013 before the attack
New York City Marathon
Hussein's win in the New York City Marathon in the fall of 1987 was the first by a runner of African descent in the event. Three years later, Douglas Wakiihuri won the race that begins in Staten Island and goes through Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, ending in Manhattan's Central Park. Kenyan men won the race eight more times, and Kenyan women six in the open division. Among them:
- John Kagwe, winner of back-to-back titles (1997–98);
- Tegla Loroupe, who won in 1994 and repeated as champion the following year;
- Martin Lel, whose victories in New York came four years apart (2003, 2007);
- Geoffrey Mutai, the fastest marathoner ever, who set a course record (2:05:06) in winning the 2011 race;
- Margaret Okayo, whose victories in 2001 and 2003 were course records.
London Marathon
Douglas Wakiihuri won the race in 1989; it would be 15 years before another Kenyan,
Chicago Marathon
The Chicago Marathon was first held in 1977. Runners from Kenya have won the men's open division 12 times, including nine in a row from 2003 to 2011.
- Evans Rutto (2003–04) and the late Samuel Wanjiru (2009–10) repeated as champions during that period.
- Joyce Chepchumba (1998–99) won consecutive titles in the women's open division; Catherine Ndereba won in 2000 and repeated in 2001 with a world women's record (2:18.47).
Berlin Marathon
Kenyan men have won the past three Berlin Marathon races (as of 2012) and 12 overall, including seven victories in a row from 1999 to 2005. Patrick Makau Musyoki won in consecutive years in 2010 and 2011, the latter in a world-record time of 2:03:38.
Tokyo Marathon
The newest of the World Marathon Majors, the first
Olympic games
Samuel Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to become an Olympic champion in the marathon when he ran an Olympic Games record 2:06:32 to win the gold medal in Beijing in 2008.
- Douglas Wakiihuri would win the country's first marathon medal, a silver at the 1988 games in Seoul. Erick Wainaina won two medals, a bronze at the 1996 games in Atlanta and a silver at the 2000 games in Sydney.
- Catherine Ndereba would win consecutive silver medals in the women's marathon, in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).
Change of nationality
Lately, there has been controversy in Kenyan athletics circles, with the defection of a number of Kenyan athletes to represent other countries, chiefly Bahrain and Qatar.[13] The Kenyan Ministry of Sports has tried to stop the defections, but they have continued anyway, with Bernard Lagat the latest, choosing to represent the United States.[13] Most of these defections occur because of economic or financial factors however some elite Kenyan runners who cannot qualify for their country's strong national team also find it easier to qualify by running for other countries.
Ball sports
Association football
Rugby union
Kenya is making a name for itself in rugby union. It is popular in Kenya especially with the annual Safari Sevens tournament. Kenya sevens team ranked 9th in IRB Sevens World Series for the 2006 season.
see also:
- Rugby union in Kenya
- Kenya Rugby Football Union
- Kenya national rugby union team
- Kenya women's national rugby union team
- Kenya national rugby sevens team
- Rugby Football Union of East Africa
- East Africa rugby union team
- Rugby league in Kenya
Volleyball
Kenya has also been a dominant force in ladies' volleyball within Africa, with Kenyan clubs winning 13 African Championships,[16] and the national team leading the continental championship with 9 titles since 1991.[17] The women's team has also competed at the Olympics and World Championships but without any notable success.[18]
Basketball
Basketball is a popular sport in Kenya, especially among the youth. The country has traditionally been home to several successful players of the US-based
Kenya's national team had its best years between the mid-80s and the mid-90s when it qualified for the
In January 2021, Liz Mills took over Kenya's men's national team. Led by Mills, Kenya qualified for their first AfroBasket championship in 28 years. At the AfroBasket 2021 qualification, Kenya beat 11-time African champions Angola for the first time in history.[19] At the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket Kenya finished 9th out of 16 teams.[20]
Cricket
Cricket is another popular and the most successful team sport. Kenya has competed in the Cricket World Cup since 1996. They upset some of the world's best teams and reached semi-finals of the 2003 tournament. They also won the inaugural World Cricket League Division 1 hosted in Nairobi and participated in the World T20. As of January 2018, their captain is Rakep Patel.
Field Hockey
Field hockey is also played in Kenya. The
The team also participated in the Summer Olympics seven times, finishing 6th in 1964. The home venue of the team is the City Park Hockey Stadium in Nairobi. The hockey sport in Kenya is overseen by the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU).[21][22]
Lacrosse
As of April 2021, Kenya has been one of four African members of the rapidly growing international federation for lacrosse.[23]
For the first time, Kenya will feature a national team at the 2022 Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships.[24]
Baseball
The Baseball Federation of Kenya (BFK) and Kenya Little League (KLL) has been promoting baseball in Kenya since 1992 and 2010 respectively. The sport was flourishing in the 90s before slowing down in the 2000s. Kenya has previously participated in the All Africa Games, the Kenko games in Zambia, and the World children's Baseball fair in Japan (4 times). Kenya hosted the World Cup U18 Africa Qualifiers at the Meru university of Science and Technology (MUST) from Dec 15–20, 2014. The sport is popular in Nairobi, Meru, Migori and Makueni. It is played in schools both Primary and Secondary, Colleges and Universities led by MUST. Solomon Gacece has been the long-serving chairman and with George Mahinda as the Secretary General.
The Kenya little League was chartered with Little League Baseball in Williamsport, PA, USA in 2010 and has been active in Meru before spreading to Nairobi and Mombasa. Currently about 24 Counties have baseball with Meru County reputing itself as the home of Baseball in Africa.
Baseball is picking up in the Eastern African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. The annual East Africa championships were held for the first time in Migori and expected to be held again. Kenya participated at the Olympics in Japan in 2020.
Softball
The Kenya Little League is promoting softball in addition to baseball in areas like Meru, Nairobi and Mombasa with Nairobi being the other softball hotspot.
Softball Federation of Kenya is promoting the sport especially at the universities.
Motor sports
Rallying
The first professional motor sport in Kenya, the
The African Rally Championship (ARC) is a regional body of FIA and runs an annual rally season with eight rounds in eight countries (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Madagascar) from March to November, except in October. The Safari Rally was acknowledged as one of the toughest rallies in the world. The Kenyan legend, Shekhar Mehta/Nissan won the ARC inaugural season (1981) while Davis Horsey/Peugeot was the last Kenyan to win ARC in 1984.
Locally, the Kenya National Rally Champion is selected from the points accumulated in several
Prominent Kenyan-born legend drivers at the WRC series: Joginder Singh (1973–1980), Shekhar Mehta (1973–1987), Patrick Njiru (1983–1998), and Ian Duncan (1983–1999).
Other significant rally drivers in Kenya today: Carl Tundo, Azar Anwar, Lee Rose, Jas Mangat, and Ben Muchemi.
Some of the KNRC two-wheel drivers: James Kirimi, Patrick Kibara, Joe Muchiri, Adnan Suhail, and Niaz Bashir.
Motocross
In Kenya,
Enduros and cross country
Kenya has annual
Autocross
Both rally cars and buggies compete in Autocross in Kenya. The major championship is the National Autocross Championship. Keith Henrie is the 2011 National Autocross champion. Other autocross athletes in Kenya include Charles Mugo, Samir Khan, and Rajbir Rai. Rally drivers such as the legend Ben Muchemi and his compatriots Stella Macharia and Onkar Rai often participate in Autocross challenge.[4]
Grand Prix karting
This is the last category of
Water sports
Swimming and diving
Kenya has achieved great success in swimming considering it is an individual sport.
Canoeing
Competitive Canoe-kayak activities started in Kenya under the Kenya Rowing and Canoe Association, after affiliation to the International Canoe federation (ICF) in 2003 after Seifudin Patwa attended the ICF headquarters in 2003 in Madrid, Spain.
Rowing
Rowing was founded in Kenya during the colonial period with the founding of Mombasa Rowing Club in the 1930s in Liwatoni, Mombasa. This Club functioned as mainly a social club with occasional competitions with visiting Naval ships mainly British Navy, later with Kenya Navy however, the Club and rowing activities closed down in 1991 due to a land dispute with the neighbouring Fishing Company. Interest was again revived in early 1995 with the formation of Kenya Rowing Association, the national Body in charge, founded by Seifudin Patwa and Alisdair Macdonald, which was affiliated to the International Rowing federation (FISA)[25] and National Olympic Committee and rowing activities restarted in the Tudor Creek, Mombasa.
Rowing Interest was revived within Kenya Navy while Mombasa Rowing Club relocated to Tudor Creek. In 2000, The Rowing team competed for the first time outside Kenya in the 4th Africa Rowing Championships in Pretoria South Africa with 8 rowers, all from Kenya Navy. In 2003, Canoeing was added as an activity to the national federation which then became Kenya Rowing and Canoe Association having been affiliated to International Canoe Federation(ICF)[26] in the same year.
In 2003, Kenya qualified for the first time in the Rowing for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in Single Scull category through Ibragim Githiga, a Kenya Navy soldier. Although his final result was not very good, it was a good step for the development of rowing in Kenya. Kenya further qualified gain in Single scull category in Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
Shooting sports
Target shooting
Although Kenya has sent shooters to the Olympic Games since 1956 (with interruptions), the discipline has remained a minority sport. Since the 1970s, Kenya's shooters are now distributed among approximately half African and half Indian. Famous past champions and Olympians are rifle shooter John Harun Mwau (now politician) and pistol shooter Shuaib Adam. The first Kenyan female ISSF shooter has now been seen abroad at the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the African Games 2011. The sport suffers from underfunding, lack of clubs, lack of coaches and an outdated firearms law, but has a modern range in Nairobi, and significant grass-roots talent that is not yet properly developed.
Archery
In Kenya archery has been practiced traditionally. It has been used in hunting, war and sports. In 2002 the Kenya association of archers was opened to cater for the growing problem of a platform where archers could compete in international sports. This also came with the formation of the Kenyan team of archers.
Mountain sports
Mountain sport is the newest sport in
Other individual sports
Boxing
Cycling
The Kenyan-born cyclist Chris Froome emerged in the early 2010s as one of the top road racing cyclists in the world, breaking through with runner-up finishes at the 2011 Vuelta a Espana and 2012 Tour de France before winning a bronze medal in the time trial at the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 Tour de France, becoming the first African-born rider to win the race. Froome rode as a Kenyan before switching his nationality to represent the United Kingdom before the 2008 Tour de France.[29] He took his second Tour win in 2015[30] and a third the following year,[31] followed by another time trial bronze at the 2016 Olympics.[32] Froome was mentored by Kenyan professional cyclist David Kinjah in his early years.[33]
A Kenyan cycling team, the Kenyan Riders, was founded in 2009 by Singaporean photographer Nicholas Leong after seeing Kenyan runners dominate the
Roller sports
See also:
- FIRS Official Website:[1]
National sports organization
The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts represents the highest organ in structural organization of sports in Kenya. The minister for sports implements policies on sports development, and debates sports bills in parliament. The commissioner of sports, within the Ministry of Sports acts as the government advisor on sports matters, drawing and evaluating policies, and maintaining standards within the Sport Department. Every district has a representation of government by Government Sports Officers.
The Kenya National Sports Council is formed by elected members from all sports in Kenya to ensure equity in development, promotion, and representation of all sports at all major competitions, national and international among other duties. The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) prepares Kenyan athletes for the Olympics and works with other sports bodies in developing and promoting sports in the country.
Collegiate sports organization
Kenya Universities Sports Association is the governing body for Colleges and Universities Sports in Kenya.
Scholastic sports organization
Kenya Primary Schools Sports Association (KPSSA) and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association are the governing bodies for sports in primary schools (class 1 to 8) and secondary schools (form 1 to 4)
Youth sports
The raise of youth sports organizations in Kenya followed the failure physical education in schools.[2][40] The first youth sport program, Mathare Youth Sports Association was formed in 1987.[41] Since then, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multilateral groups such as the UN, have continued to establish youth sport programs in densely populated urban areas giving the majority of Kenyan children opportunity to participate in sports.[42]
References
- ^ Wanderi, M. (2006). The traditional games of Africa: Directions and challenges in their promotion and formalization. International Journal of Physical Education, 43(1), 31–38.
- ^ a b Nyaga, L. R. K. (2011). Valued Outcomes in Youth Sport Programs in Kenya: Towards the Government’s Vision 2030. Doctoral Dissertation. Springfield College, Massachusetts, USA.
- ^ Godia, G. (1989). Sport in Kenya. In E. A. Wagner (Ed.). Sport in Asia and Africa: A comparative handbook (pp. 267–281). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, Inc.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kanyiba Nyaga, L. R. (2011). The History of Sports in Kenya. Unpublished Book Manuscript
- ^ Wamukoya, E., & Hardman, K. (1992). Physical education in Kenyan secondary schools. British Journal of Physical Education, 23(4), 30–33.
- ^ Njororai, W. (2009). Colonial legacy, minorities and association football in Kenya. Soccer & Society, 10(6), 866–882
- ^ a b Nyaga, L. R. K. (2008). Management of middle and long distance elite runners in Kenya. Master’s thesis. Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
- ^ Fisher, Max (17 April 2012). "Why Kenyans Make Such Great Runners: A Story of Genes and Cultures". The Atlantic. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain won in 1500 m, but was later disqualified for doping, and stripped of his gold medal. This turned Asbel Kiprop's silver medal into gold by November 2009. Sources before this date refer to Kenya's achievement as "5 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze".
- ^ Whittington, Jessica (3 August 2014). "Julius Yego defies injury to win historic javelin gold in Glasgow". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- cnn.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- bbc.co.uk. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ a b IAAF: Changes of Allegiance 1998 to 2005[permanent dead link]
- ^ New Vision, June 3, 2004: Wrangles land Kenya indefinite FIFA ban Archived 2008-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Kenya Culture & Cultural events | Kenya Safari and Travel". Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ "Kenya Prisons Women's African Champions for fourth time running | FIVB - Press release". www.fivb.org. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
- ^ "Kenya beat Algeria for ninth African women's crown | FIVB - Press release". www.fivb.org. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
- ^ "FIVB Women's World Grand Prix 2014". www.fivb.org. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
- ^ Liz Mills Takes Big Step for Female Basketball Coaches Gerald Imray (U.S. News & World Report), 19 March 2021. Accessed 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Final standings of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021".
- ^ Kenya Hockey Union: All Africa Games Results[permanent dead link]
- ^ Kenya Hockey Union: Africa Cup[permanent dead link]
- ^ South African Lacrosse Becomes 69th Member Nation of World Lacrosse US Lacrosse Magazine, 15 April 2021. Accessed 20 April 2021.
- ^ Record 23 lacrosse teams to play at Men's Under-21 World Championship Ali Iveson (Inside the Games), 30 May 2021. Accessed 9 June 2021.
- ^ "worldrowing.org". Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "Home". ICF - Planet Canoe. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
- ^ https://boxrec.com/en/box-am/13990
- ^ https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/13990
- bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- nytimes.com. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- bbc.co.uk. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ Collis, Simon (10 August 2016). "Olympic time trial: Chris Froome salutes 'unbeatable' Cancellara". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ "Nicholas Leong". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ Lee, Aaron S. (10 January 2016). "Epic solo ride earns Bobridge second Australian road title". Eurosport. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ Woodpower, Zeb (28 January 2016). "Kenyan Riders Down Under continue progression with Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Sun Tour starts". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Inline Skating". LiveAbout. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- ^ Roller Skating open day at Kasarani Stadium. Retrieved on October 31, 2011 from http://kenyakidz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319:roller-skating-open-day-at-kasarani-stadium&catid=75:small-children&Itemid=195 Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mahlamann, P. (1990). Physical activity and development in Kenya. Transafrican Journal of History, (19), 165–179.
- ^ Karanja, P (2003). Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), Kenya. In Streetfootballworld, Community development (pp. 144–45). Author.
- ^ Bardgett, M., Bowers, J., Sokoloff, D., & Wells, J. (2009). Playing for the future: An inside look at a social network affecting youth development in Kenya (Capstone Reports 2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010 from George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs website: http://elliott.gwu.edu/academics/grad/ids/capstone_reports.cfm Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine