Kenyan athletes urged to uphold integrity and excellence as leaders honor World Championship heroes in Ruiru

Kenyan athletes have been urged to uphold integrity and continue pursuing excellence through discipline and hard work, even as the country faces heightened scrutiny over doping concerns.

The call was made during a ceremony held at Ruiru GK Prisons, where athletes who represented Kenya at the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in Tokyo were celebrated for their outstanding performances.

The event brought together senior government officials, including the Principal Secretary for Prisons, Salome Beacco, Sports PS Elijah Mwangi, and the Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick Aranduh, who commended the athletes for flying Kenya’s flag high on the global stage.

Speaking at the event, PS Beacco urged athletes to remain committed to clean competition and to serve as positive role models for younger generations.

“Integrity and discipline are the foundation of lasting success. Our athletes must continue to inspire others by competing fairly and honorably,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Sports PS Mwangi, who called for the full utilization of the country’s existing sports training facilities. He revealed that the government is finalizing plans to modernize several sports centers to help athletes reach peak performance and sustain Kenya’s global dominance in athletics.

“We want our athletes to train in world-class facilities right here at home,” Mwangi said. “The government is investing in infrastructure that supports clean and professional sportsmanship.”

Among those honoured at the ceremony was Lilian Odira, a prisons athlete who made history by breaking the world record in the 800 metres at the 2025 Championships in Tokyo. Her achievement drew admiration and pride from both colleagues and officials.

The celebration at Ruiru GK Prisons served as both recognition and a reminder that Kenya’s sporting success rests not just on medals, but on the integrity and character of its athletes.