As the countdown begins for the 6th edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold meeting at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, it is not just prepping up for elite-level performances, but also making bold environmental strides that could reshape how the world views athletics in Africa.
For the first time, the prestigious event, set for this Saturday (May 31), will be hosted at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, a venue recently equipped with an air quality monitoring sensor installed per World Athletics’ global sustainability standards.
“We thank the Ministry of Defence for opening up the Ulinzi Sports Complex and supporting the installation of this critical infrastructure,” said Athletics Kenya President and the World Athletics Vice President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Jackson Tuwei in an exclusive interview with Pura Vida Sports Africa.
“World Athletics mandates that venues for international events must meet verifiable clean air standards. This ensures that our athletes, both local and international, compete under the safest, healthiest conditions,” he emphasized.
The sensor, installed through a joint effort between Athletics Kenya, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Stockholm Environment Institute, allows for real-time monitoring of air quality before and during the meet, information that will be reported directly to World Athletics.
“This week’s data will reflect the exact air conditions athletes will experience,” Tuwei said. “It’s part of our vision to position Kenya not only as a global force in athletics but also as a responsible host for eco-certified events.”
𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭
Kenya’s push for sustainability in athletics isn’t isolated to the Kip Keino Classic. In recent years, air quality monitors have been rolled out across major sports venues in the country: from Kasarani Stadium and the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi to Lobo Village in Uasin Gishu, home to the Sirikwa Classic Gold Label Cross Country meet.
Other installations now cover Eliud Kipchoge Training Complex in Nandi County, Nakuru Athletics Club, and even regional schools like St. Patrick’s Iten, Maseno Secondary, and Kwanthanze in Machakos, known for churning out Olympic-calibre athletes.
“We’ve made these investments because air pollution doesn’t just affect elite athletes, it harms entire communities,” explained Maxwell Nyamu, Athletics Kenya’s Sustainability Officer and a member of the Sports for Climate Action team, during an interview with Pura Vida Sports Africa.
“If our sensors detect unsafe pollution levels, we alert authorities like NEMA. These measures are as much about public health as they are about sport.”
Additionally, the sensors track temperature and heat index, enabling organizers to make informed decisions about scheduling events in an era where climate change is already reshaping East Africa’s weather patterns.
𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭
Beyond the health benefits, Athletics Kenya’s environmental push is also reshaping the country’s sports economy. Clean air is now a key requirement in venue selection.
“Every county wants to host athletic events because of the jobs, tourism, and prestige they bring,” Nyamu told Pura Vida Sports Africa. “But we’ve made it clear, if you can’t meet the environmental standards, your town can’t host. That message is pushing local governments to act on pollution.”
This evolving framework is not just about compliance; it’s about setting a new global bar for how developing nations can lead in sustainable sport.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬
As part of a broader vision, Athletics Kenya has aligned with President William Ruto’s national tree-planting campaign, directly linking reforestation to clean air and sport.
“During our World Athletics Kids’ Kids Relays activation day, schoolchildren planted trees as part of their sporting activities,” said Tuwei. “We’re nurturing a generation that connects environmental stewardship with athletic excellence.”
𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡
The Kip Keino Classic is not just a competition, it’s fast becoming a template for how sports events in the Global South can blend elite competition with environmental consciousness.
As global sporting bodies place increasing emphasis on sustainability, Kenya is showing how athletic excellence and ecological responsibility can race forward, together.
“We want the world to see that Kenya is ready, not just with medals, but with clean, measured air, certified venues, and a serious commitment to sustainability,” Tuwei concluded.
As the starting gun prepares to fire on Saturday, May 31, the Kip Keino Classic is proving that the future of athletics lies not just in speed, but in sustainability. (Photos: Peter Njoroge)
Robert Kibet is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He previously worked as a correspondent for Milele FM. His feature stories on development, the climate crisis, the environment, conflict, human rights, food security, and education have been published in The Guardian UK, Reuters, IPS, DW, The New Humanitarian, and Equal Times.
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