Three-time Olympic champion and 1,500 metres world record holder Faith Kipyegon has announced a partnership with sportswear manufacturer Nike to build a maternity wing at Keringet Dispensary in Kuresoi South, Nakuru County, where she was born 32 years ago.
The first phase of the project is expected to take six months and will see the construction of a facility with a capacity of 12 beds at Sh30 million.
According to Kipyegon’s communications team, Sh9 million of this amount will be used to equip the facility set to save local women from having to travel long distances in search of maternity services.
The long distances, coupled with a poor road network and a general lack of transport in the area, have made access to emergency health services difficult.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, Kipyegon said the project is her way of giving back to society and described the event as a special moment for me.
“I’m glad to be back where it all began. This is where I was born and raised. My running career began here. This community shaped who I am today, and I am just happy to give back,” she said.
“This community raised me. They believed in me when I was just a young girl running barefoot. I felt that the best way to show my appreciation was to initiate a project that would have an impact on their lives.”
Kipyegon thanked Nike for supporting the project she had come up with when she took part in the “Breaking 4” race at Stade Charléty in Paris last year. The Nike-sponsored event took place on June 16, and Kipyegon was attempting to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. However, she missed this target, clocking 4:06:42. She also spoke about the joy of motherhood, noting that it is often shattered when a woman endures months of pregnancy only to lose the baby due to preventable complications.
“Returning home with a bundle of joy brings happiness not just to the mother, but to the entire community,” said Kipyegon, who noted that she will continue to compete in the 1,500 metres. If she is beaten, she said she will consider moving to long-distance running.
“I felt compelled to use my platform and success as an athlete to make a lasting impact in my community. That is how this idea was born, and I thank Nike for their support,” she said.
The maternity ward is expected to significantly improve access to maternal healthcare and ease the burden on expectant mothers, marking yet another milestone in Kipyegon’s legacy as both a global icon and a community champion.
“During the “Breaking 4” race, I thought of a maternity ward. I was happy when my kit sponsor, Nike, said they would support the project. I want to see my people smiling. I want mothers to be happy when they give birth,” said Kipyegon, adding that this is how the “Dare to Dream Maternity Wing” came about.
World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge praised Kipyegon for supporting her community, describing the project as a powerful example of how sport for social transformation.
“Champions are not only defined by what they achieve for themselves, but by what they do for others,” said Kipchoge.
AK president, retired General Jackson Tuwei, said: “Kenyan athletes continue to demonstrate leadership beyond competition by investing in education, health, and community development, and this is commendable.”
Nike’s Head of Global Running, Tanya Hvidak, said: ‘Because when women have safe, dignified care in childbirth, entire communities rise up around them. To Faith, the world knows you as a champion, a record breaker and a symbol of what is possible when belief meets discipline and discipline meets a challenge.”
Several athletes attended the event, including former World Javelin Champion Julius Yego and World Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir.
