james wika 
Absa Bank Kenya Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director Mwihaki Wachira (Centre) presents the sponsorship cheque for the Absa Kip Keino Classic 2026 to Athletics Kenya Competition Director Kennedy Tanui, Vice President Jinaro Kibet (2nd Right), Competition Director Kennedy Tanui, Senior Vice President Paul Mutwii, and Meet Director Barnabas Korir during the Absa Kip Keino Classic media launch.
- Absa commits KES 35 million to 2026 Kip Keino Classic as event goes under floodlights for the first time;
Absa Bank Kenya has renewed its title sponsorship for the Absa Kip Keino Classic Tour with a KES 35 million investment for the race to be held at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, April 24, 2026.
For the first time in the championship’s history, the 2026 edition will be staged under floodlights, running from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
This evening schedule will deliver a high-energy atmosphere for spectators and create a world-class night-track environment for the athletes.
As part of its broader commitment to athletics in 2026, Absa has committed KES 60 million to support the national athletics calendar.
This includes a KES 35 million investment in the Absa Kip Keino Classic, of which Kes. 27 million will cover rights fees, and the rest to support event execution, and fan and stakeholder experiences, as well as continued support for media amplification and engagement.
The 2026 sponsorship marks Absa’s sixth year as the title partner, bringing its total investment to KES 196 million over this period.
This sustained commitment has ensured that the stories of Kenya’s elite and emerging stars reach a global audience, while successfully positioning brand Kenya as both a sporting and tourism destination on the world stage.
The World Athletics Continental Gold Tour Race, known as the Absa Kip Keino Classic, will bring together top-tier local and international athletes for an exceptional track and field competition.
This event will showcase some of the fastest sprinters, most skilled field athletes, and emerging global talents, all vying for substantial prize money and valuable world ranking points on Kenyan soil.
Speaking on Absa’s support to sports, Absa Bank Kenya Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director Mwihaki Wachira, reaffirmed the Bank’s long-term commitment to supporting athletics and strengthening Kenya’s sports ecosystem.
“At Absa, our purpose is to empower Africa’s tomorrow, together one story at a time, and we see sport as a powerful platform to do that by supporting talent and strengthening the ecosystems around it.
Through long-term partnerships, we are contributing to the growth of athletics in Kenya, while helping to position the country as a global sporting and tourism destination.
Over the past decade, we have invested close to KES 2 billion in Kenya’s sports ecosystem, and we are proud to continue that journey with the Kip Keino Classic, working alongside government and Athletics Kenya to deliver another world-class event.”
On his part, the Athletics Kenya Meet Director Barnabas Korir expressed optimism that this year’s floodlight event will attract huge numbers both locally and more tuning in globally.
“We are all set for this year’s Absa Kip Keino Classic Tour event which will for the first time be under the flood lights commencing with a curtain raising national event at 1.40pm on 24th April 2026 at Nyayo Stadium and conclude with the 100m men’s race followed by the closing ceremony from 8pm.
In a historic first, the schedule will also feature the introduction of the Under 20 (U20) at the Absa Kip Keino showcase, adding a fresh layer of youthful energy to the meet.”
“This year’s event is free.We therefore expect Kenyans to show up in huge numbers and support our local athletes,” he added.
Among the athletes expected to compete at the Absa Kip Keino Classic are the fastest man in Africa Ferdinand Omanyala, Olympic champion Thomas Rohler, World Champion and Diamond League Final winner Timothy Cheruiyot,American Olympic athlete Dalilah Muhammad, African record holder in Javelin Julius Yego, Canadian hammer thrower, 2024 Olympic champion and two time World Champion Ethan Katzberg, Kenyan middle-distance runner, Olympic and World champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Ugandan middle distance runner and 2019 World champion Halima Nakaayi, among others.
Athletics Kenya Competition Director Kennedy Tanui expects fast times in the 100m and 200m, probably even world record paces, with the newly installed Mondo track at the Nyayo Stadium.
As part of its ongoing partnership with Athletics Kenya and this year, Absa has committed KES 60 million to the athletics calendar.
This includes support for the Sirikwa World Athletics Gold Cross Country held in February this year, an event that showcased the highest standard of cross-country competition in Kenya and reinforced the country’s capacity to host international cross-country events.
