The 2026/2027 athletics season in Kenya has commenced with the first leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championships held in Machakos County last Saturday. This season is set to be one of the busiest for Kenyan athletes, with several major competitions lined up. The Africa Cross Country Championships are scheduled for March 20 in Mbabane, Swaziland, followed by the African Games from August 27 to September 10 in Cairo, Egypt, and the World Athletics Championships from September 11 to 19 in Beijing, China.
Kenya's performance at the recent 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, was a cause for concern, with the country collecting 12 medals - three gold, four silver, and five bronze. This was a significant drop from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where Kenya secured 21 medals - six gold, five silver, and 10 bronze. The decline in performance has raised concerns, particularly with the World Athletics Championships in Beijing being a primary target.
The government, Athletics Kenya, coaches, athletes' management, and athletes themselves are expected to work together to ensure proper planning and preparation for the upcoming competitions. The 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships saw a historic sweep of all six gold medals by female athletes in middle distance to road events, resulting in a total of 11 medals - seven gold, two silver, and two bronze. However, the men's performance has been struggling in recent years.
A notable example of Kenya's struggles in men's athletics is the decline in gold medals won. Emmanuel Wanyonyi was the only gold medalist in Tokyo, while none were won in 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. To address this, Athletics Kenya is expected to organize training camps for sprinters, field events, and races where the country has struggled, such as men's steeplechase, 5,000m, and 10,000m.
The lack of facilities has been a significant issue for Kenyan athletes, as evident during the Commonwealth Games preparations. The ongoing renovations of athletics facilities need to be fast-tracked to ensure athletes have adequate training grounds. The country's performance at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing will be closely watched, with expectations of improved results.
The Africa Cross Country Championships, scheduled for March 20 in Mbabane, Swaziland, will provide an early test for Kenyan athletes. The competition will be an opportunity for athletes to gauge their performance and make necessary adjustments before the World Athletics Championships. Athletics Kenya and the athletes' management will be working closely to ensure that athletes are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
As the season progresses, Kenyan athletes will face stiff competition from other countries. The African Games, set to take place from August 27 to September 10 in Cairo, Egypt, will provide another test for the athletes. With the World Athletics Championships being the primary target, athletes will need to be in top form to secure medals and bring glory to Kenya.
Key points
- Kenya's athletics season has started with the first leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championships.
- The country's performance at the 23rd Commonwealth Games was a cause for concern, with a significant drop in medals won.
- Athletics Kenya and the government are expected to work together to ensure proper planning and preparation for the upcoming competitions.
