By Robert Kibet
On a cool Nairobi morning, the sound of young feet thundering down the Kasarani International Stadium outside track signaled the start of something special: Kenya’s junior athletics team has officially entered residential training ahead of the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Under-18 and Under-20 Championships, set to take place from July 16 to 20 in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
At the helm of the team’s final preparations is seasoned head coach Robert Ng’esirei, who is leading a formidable squad of 49 athletes, both boys and girls, competing across sprints, middle- and long-distance, and field events.
“We have a total of 49 athletes. The team is strong,” said Ng’esirei.
“They began residential training the other day, and now we’ve started structured workouts so that when we go out, we’ll face our opponents nicely. The time is short, but we shall catch up.”
Ng’esirei is supported by a tactical coaching unit that includes Paul Kemei of Lemotit Athletics Club (long-distance), Daniel Bor (middle-distance), Christopher Chepkormet (supporting Kemei), and Erastus Kabuge, who oversees the field events.
The team, selected through Athletics Kenya’s regional training camps, reflects the depth and diversity of talent in the country.
Field events alone include two boys and one girl in long jump and triple jump, while the sprints team features five athletes—two of them under-20 sprinters specializing in the 100m and 200m.
“Our sprinters are doing very well in workouts,” Ng’esirei said.
“We also have strong middle-distance runners in the 800m and 1500m, and a standout under-20 5000m athlete who will join the camp soon after competing elsewhere.”
Ng’esirei pointed out an interesting dynamic in this year’s team: the under-18 athletes are outperforming their under-20 counterparts in some events.
“In sprints, for example, you’ll see that some U18s may perform better than the U20s,” he noted. “This is a better team than 2023. When we went to Zambia, we had talent, but this year’s squad has had stronger preparation thanks to support structures in place.”
Team Forged by Camps and Competition
According to Ng’esirei, all 49 athletes in camp came directly from Athletics Kenya’s regional youth development camps, which were supported by the Ministry of Sports. These camps have been instrumental in scouting, nurturing, and refining talent from grassroots levels.
“None of these athletes came from outside the camps,” he emphasized. “The training they received and the exposure from AK’s weekend meets, where they competed with seniors, really improved their performance.”
With just days left before the team departs for Nigeria, Ng’esirei and his fellow coaches are focused on final preparations—sharpening physical condition, building mental readiness, and cultivating team unity.
“We’re preparing them mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually,” he added. “When they go to Nigeria, they will not just be ready to run—they’ll be ready to represent Kenya with pride.”
A Parallel Focus: Performance and Protection
As the athletes work toward peak form, another critical layer of preparation is quietly unfolding—safeguarding.
At the center of this is Elizabeth Keitany, the team’s General Manager and Safeguarding Officer, whose role is to ensure the young athletes are not only trained to win, but also protected from harm.
“I want to see that all our athletes are safe—from their training, to where they sleep, to where they eat,” Keitany said during the team’s speed session at Kasarani’s outside arena track.
Keitany, who also oversees logistics, is tasked with ensuring athlete welfare in and out of competition. Her presence symbolizes a cultural shift in youth sport, where safeguarding is no longer an afterthought but a priority.
“We protect these athletes from harassment, from exploitation, and all forms of abuse,” she stated. “We have the best athletes, so we want to make sure they are well taken care of.”
She credited the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Sports, for continuing to support over 60 athletics camps nationwide.
These camps, she noted, are carefully monitored, especially under the leadership of AK’s Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir.
“He’s been sending us to ensure our girls and boys are being treated well,” she said. “I must sincerely thank the Government for the support they’ve given us through the Minister of Sports. The federation president, treasurer, and director of youth development have also been instrumental.”
Road to Abeokuta
With preparations in high gear, Kenya’s focus remains clear: to defend its legacy as a continental athletics powerhouse, while setting new standards in athlete welfare.
The MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta will serve as the battleground where Africa’s most talented juniors will compete for glory over five days.
For Kenya’s 49-strong contingent, this journey is about more than just medals. It’s a convergence of coaching excellence, grassroots development, institutional support, and above all, a commitment to ensuring that young talent is nurtured, respected, and protected every step of the way.
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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