World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Bańka has concluded his three-day official visit to Kenya, where he engaged with government officials, sports administrators, and athletes to strengthen the country's anti-doping framework. Bańka, a Polish former athlete, arrived in Nairobi on Sunday and held meetings with President William Ruto, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, and officials from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). The visit aimed to evaluate Kenya's progress in combating doping, particularly in athletics, where the country remains under close watch as a Category A nation under the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Bańka emphasized that anti-doping is a collaborative effort, requiring coordinated action between government, anti-doping organizations, sports federations, and athletes. He described Kenya as the "home of champions" and expressed optimism that, with strong support from the government and sports institutions, Kenya can be a role model for the region in fighting doping effectively. Bańka's visit was also an opportunity to reaffirm the progress Kenya has made since being flagged for 35 critical gaps in legislation, governance, operational independence, and testing in 2024.
President Ruto confirmed Kenya's intention to criminalize doping offenses starting January 2027, building on the country's domestication of anti-doping law since 2016. The move aims to fully align Kenya's national legislation with the World Anti-Doping Code ahead of the 2027 deadline. Ruto also highlighted Kenya's continued financial commitment to the cause, including a five-year, USD 25 million anti-doping program and an annual commitment of roughly KSh 600 million pledged to ADAK.
The visit also served to highlight Kenya's broader investment in the fight against doping, including the rollout of the Clean Sport Education campaign now being incorporated into school curricula nationwide. The 2025/26 national budget allocation of KSh 241 million to ADAK for testing, education, and enforcement was also referenced as evidence of the government's continued financial commitment to the cause.
Bańka's meeting with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed offered an opportunity to reaffirm football's role within Kenya's broader clean-sport agenda, particularly as the country ramps up preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The tournament will place Kenyan sporting institutions under heightened international scrutiny.
With the criminalization pledge, continued funding commitments, and renewed institutional cooperation now on record, the visit is being viewed by stakeholders as a significant step in cementing Kenya's standing as a credible, compliant partner in the global fight for clean sport. However, questions remain about how quickly these commitments will translate into a measurable reduction in doping cases.
Kenya was officially removed from WADA's non-compliance watchlist in March 2026, following structural reforms. The country's anti-doping efforts have been strengthened through collaborations between government, sports institutions, and athletes. Bańka's visit has reinforced the importance of continued cooperation and investment in anti-doping initiatives to ensure the integrity of sports in Kenya.
Key points
- WADA President Witold Bańka emphasizes collaboration in anti-doping efforts during his visit to Kenya
- Kenya commits to criminalizing doping offenses starting January 2027
- Kenya's anti-doping efforts have been strengthened through collaborations between government, sports institutions, and athletes
