The seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic, set to be held on the 24th of this month at Nyayo Stadium, received a shot in the arm after Absa Bank announced a Ksh 35 million sponsorship towards the one-day event.
As part of its broader commitment to athletics in 2026, Absa has committed KSh 60 million to support the national athletics calendar.
This includes a Ksh 35 million investment in the Absa Kip Keino Classic, of which Ksh 27 million will cover rights fees, and the rest will 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 Ksh 196 million over this period.
The Kip Keino Classic, a gold label world continental tour meet, which will be the 2nd stop in the World Athletics calendar after last weekend’s Australia event, will bring together top-tier local and international athletes for an exceptional track and field competition.
Speaking during the unveiling on Thursday in Nairobi, the meet director Barnaba 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 1.40 pm on 24th April 2026 at Nyayo Stadium and concluding with the 100m men’s race, followed by the closing ceremony from 8 pm. 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.
On her part, 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 Ksh 2 billion in Kenya’s sports ecosystem, and we are proud to continue that journey with the Kip Keino Classic, working alongside the government and Athletics Kenya to deliver another world-class event.”
Among the athletes who have confirmed their participation in this year’s meet are Commonwealth Champion Ferdinand Omanyala; Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler; former World Champion and Diamond League Final winner Timothy Cheruiyot; American Olympic athlete Dalilah Muhammad; former Olympic javelin silver medallist Julius Yego; Olympic and World hammer throw champion Canadian Ethan Katzberg; Olympic and World 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi; and 2019 World 800m champion Halima Nakaayi from Uganda, 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.
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