Safaricom has announced a KES 1 million sponsorship for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), which are set to take place on April 16 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The sponsorship marks the telco’s continued support for the recognition and celebration of Kenya’s sporting talent.
This year’s awards will honour outstanding athletes and teams under the theme “Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports,” spotlighting achievements by female sports personalities across the country.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa reaffirmed the company’s longstanding relationship with the SOYA Awards, noting that the firm has contributed over KES 300 million in cash and kind to the event since its inception in 2004.
“At Safaricom we believe in the power of sport to uplift communities, transform lives, and spark national pride,” said Dr. Ndegwa. “For us, supporting SOYA is our way of honouring the resilience, excellence, and determination of Kenyan athletes who continue to raise our flag on the global stage.”
SOYA founder and National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) President Dr. Paul Tergat praised Safaricom’s two-decade commitment to the event, calling it “instrumental” in elevating the annual awards to national prominence.
“The unwavering support from Safaricom over the last two decades has been instrumental in shaping SOYA into the prestigious platform it is today,” said Tergat. “This year, as we shine a spotlight on women’s excellence in sports, we are proud to do so with a partner who shares our vision.”
The 2025 edition will feature 11 award categories including Sportswoman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman and Sportsman with a Disability, Coach of the Year, Women’s and Men’s Team of the Year, Girls’ and Boys’ School Team of the Year, Schools Coach of the Year, and the Hall of Fame Award.
Among the standout nominees for Sportsperson of the Year are Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, both of whom had stellar seasons. They are joined by marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, and Olympic 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Faith Cherotich.
In the Sportsman of the Year category, boxer Boniface Mugunde—who brought home Kenya’s first African boxing title since Nick Okoth in 2017—has been shortlisted alongside Nairobi Thunders’ basketball star Albert Odero and elite athletes Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Ronald Kwemoi, and Benson Kipruto.
This year’s awards come at a time when Kenyan athletics is enjoying strong international form, having topped the African medal tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics with four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.
