Several young Kenyans flew the country’s flag high in various sporting events in 2024 pointing to a promising future for them. We take a look at the exciting, top performers:
Aldrine Kibet 18 (football)
For the second year running, the Spain-based youngster, who idolises Argentine great Lionel Messi, continued to soar high as a precocious talent.
He showed his prowess as Rising Stars of Kenya qualified for the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations after finishing second in the Cecafa qualifiers behind hosts Tanzania. It was historic considering that Kenya had never qualified for the African competition since making their debut in the second edition held in 1979. “2024 was a great year, vindicated by my selection among the 100 most influential Kenyans 2024.
At Nastic Academy, my football improved a lot, culminating in me being named Most Valuable Player in the Valladolid Cup,” Kibet told Nation Sport from Barcelona, Spain.
“For the national team, it was a wonderful odyssey with the U-20 team. We made history. The experience was unbelievable,” said the exciting midfielder who says he has obtained his diploma in the Baccalaureate exam and enrolled in a computer science degree programme.
He noted that the strength of the Rising Stars team was the good chemistry and great understanding that was forged in the 2023 Cecafa U-18 tournament in Kenya.
“The plan and expectation for 2025 is simple - get to the U-20 Afcon semi-finals and qualify for the Fifa U-20 World Cup in Chile in November 2025. We want to continue making history” said the future Harambee Stars player.
Along with central midfielder Kevin Wangaya, Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala, and AFC Leopards right winger Hassan Beja, the talented ball player made the list of nominees for the coveted LG/SJAK Sports Personality Award for October 2024.
Naila Gikunda, 11 (tennis)
The rising star together with Bathsheba Ogamba, and Paula Oduko inspired Kenya to reclaim the girls’ gold medal at the 2024 International Tennis Federation (ITF)/Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Under-12 East Africa Team Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August.
The trio won all their singles and doubles matches against Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi in the seventh edition of the Zone IV team event to qualify for the African Junior Finals for the Teams’ Competition (AJTC – U-12).
Tennis star Naila Gikunda poses for a photo with the trophy after winning the 2024 Kenya Open Junior tennis tournament at Nairobi Club.
Photo credit: Pool
Naila, the youngest of the three tennis-playing Gikunda sisters, closed the year with the U-12 Kenya Junior Open title and finished runner-up with Ogamba in U-14 doubles.
Naila said she reached all her goals this year - which were to be in the top three in U-12 Kenya (she is ranked second) and top 100 in U-14 Africa (she is at position 54).
“I wanted to make the U-12 team which I did, and was thrilled to be part of the Kenyan team that won all their matches without losing a set at the East Africa Team Championship,” said Naila. She is now targeting to be number 1 in U-12 in Kenya, top-50 in U-14 in Africa, and qualify for the U-12 African Championships.
Cheche Ababu, 14 (rallycross, autocross)
For the son of former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, this year has been a rollercoaster season. “It started with some tough challenges but ended with the biggest achievements of my life so far,” said Cheche.
He says he struggled a bit with his performance at the beginning of the season because of the buggy he was driving.
“Things weren’t going as planned, and it was frustrating. But everything changed in April when I got a new buggy. From that point on, I put my head down, worked harder than ever, and focused on improving every single aspect of my driving. Looking back now, I’d say it’s been an unforgettable year filled with growth, determination, and big wins,” he said with energy.
He says winning both Kenya National Rallycross (RX) and Autocross (AutoX) championships felt unreal. “It is a dream come true. It’s hard to put into words because it’s something I’ve worked so hard for."
He said that the secret behind his success was the combination of getting a new reliable and powerful buggy in April and the sheer effort he put in after that.
“I spent countless hours practicing, analyzing my races, and learning from every mistake I made.” He practiced on his simulator at home and on the race track at Kasarani. “My support system - my family, coach, and team - also played a huge role. They believed in me when I doubted myself, and that pushed me to give my all. We have been a phenomenal team, more of a family, really!”
He is hungry to improve. “I think I need to work on being more consistent, especially under pressure. There were a few moments this year where I almost let nerves get the better of me, and I want to be stronger mentally in those situations,” he said.
Atete Benzinge, 15 (motorcross)
The female rider finished third in the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXOAN) in Marrakech, Morocco.
Her sterling performance saw her selected along with Leah Heygate (Zambia), Sharifah Kateete (Uganda), and South Africans Mienke Cawood, Zoe Both, and Ivana Venter to represent Africa at the prestigious FIM Oceania Women's Motocross Cup scheduled for March 2025 in Australia.
Atete Benzinge in action during a past race
Photo credit: Pool
She was named the Lady Rider of the Year at the 2023 Motorcycle Sports Federation of Kenya (MSFK) Awards following her good performance that season. She also represented the country in MXOAN in Cape Town, South Africa, and finished third overall nationally in the MX85 category.
Faith Cherotich, 20 (athletics)
The Olympic bronze medallists caused a major upset in the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium by beating world and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi from Bahrain and Olympic silver medallist Peruth Chemutai from Uganda in September 2024.
Bronze medallist Faith Cherotich of Kenya celebrates after the 3000m Steeplechase final at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on August 06, 2024.
Photo credit: Hannah Mckay | Reuters
Cherotich clocked 9:02.36 followed by Kenyan-born Yavi (9:02.87) and former Olympic champion Chemutai (9:07.60). The sky is the limit
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 20 (athletics)
He seemed beaten at the Diamond League Final in Brussels going into the closing stages but stepped up in the last few metres to pass world champion giant Canadian Marco Arop and the red-hot Algerian Djamel Sedjati with a devastating burst to cross the line first in 1:42.70.
Sedjati settled for second spot (1:42.86), while Arop came third (1:43.25). Wanyonyi is the youngest ever Olympic 800m champion, winning in Tokyo with a superb gun-to-tape front running, and the third fastest man ever in the two-lap race with a personal best of 1:41.19.
Paris Olympic Games 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi poses with his Diamond League medal and Trophy on September 16, 2203 at Nation Centre in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
He came closest to breaking David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91. That incredible record will surely be under threat in 2025 from the former herdsboy.
Alec Mumo, 17 (volleyball)
The Matiliku Boys Secondary School student was one of the best players from Kenya at the 2024 African Boys’ Under-18 Nations Volleyball Championship in Tunisia in August.
Kenya shocked Rwanda 3-0 and Morocco 3-2 to finish the preliminary round in fourth place with five points behind Egypt (14), Tunisia (12) and Algeria (nine). Coach Sila Makiso’s men lost 3-0 in the semi-final against Egypt and by a similar margin in the bronze medal match against Algeria.
“Mumo was consistent and contributed massively to our win against Morocco and Rwanda. He was also the team leader mentally,” said Kenyta U-18 assistant coach Geoffrey Omondi.
