The 2023 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) celebrations scheduled for March 1, has received a Sh6 million to host this year’s gala at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Dubbed “Celebrating Sporting Excellence,” this year’s SOYA celebration, which marks 20 years since distance runner Paul Tergat conceived the idea of paying homage and recognizing the country’s top performing sports personalities across all disciplines, has 11 categories and resonates with the milestones the country’s sportsmen and women have achieved over the decades.
“In this edition of the SOYA awards, we are marking a major milestone of recognizing, honoring and celebrating our sports personalities consistently for 20 years, a feat only possible with true friends and partners of soya and Kenyan sports. I salute you,” Tergat said during the launch of the 20th edition of SOYA on Tuesday, February 20, at the Sarova Stanley.
He added that while 2023 witnessed some of the greatest performances across the board with special mention going to the Special Olympic athletes’ performances, this year’s awards will attract accomplished sportsmen and women, who have passed on, including marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, and former multi-track world record holder, Henry Rono.
Kiptum and Rono are among the nominees who will be rewarded.
“We once again convey our profound condolences to the families of the two and other sports personalities, who have left us in the last one year,” said Tergat.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) and Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) are some of the sponsors of the 2023 SOYA.
Two decades ago, Paralympian Henry Wanyoike and distance runner Catherine Ndereba were the inaugural Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year winners respectively.
Kenya Sevens rugby team, Shujaa won the Sports team of the Year (men) with the national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers (women) claiming team of the awards. Brimin Kipruto (athletics) was declared the most promising sportsman as legendary Kipchoge Keino (athletics) was inducted to the Hall of Fame. (via Athletics news)
