Athletics Kenya has awarded 27 coaches with World Athletics Level One certificates after they successfully completed an intensive coaching course, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots athletics development and safeguarding the future of the sport.
The graduation ceremony, held at Gem garden in Nairobi, brought together senior athletics officials, elite athletes, development partners and diplomats, highlighting the growing international support for athletics development in Kenya.
Among those in attendance were Athletics Kenya President Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, H.E. Gideon Behar, Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya, representatives from Co-operative Bank, led by Francis Ngambi, and Aberdare Sports Club Director Georgina Munene.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lt Gen Tuwei described the graduation as more than a certificate presentation.
“Today’s gathering is more than just a certificate award ceremony. It is a celebration of capacity building, international cooperation and the future of athletics,” he said.
He said investing in coaches remains key to maintaining Kenya’s global dominance in athletics.
“This is the kind of grassroots impact that sustains Kenya’s dominance in athletics. Coaches are the foundation upon which future champions are built,” Tuwei said.
Addressing the newly certified coaches, Tuwei challenged them to remain committed to professionalism and integrity, reminding them that coaching extends beyond training athletes.
“You need to transform young lives, build champions and uphold the values of integrity, professionalism and service,” he said.
The Athletics Kenya president also announced that the federation has begun registering all coaches, technical officials and athlete support personnel as part of efforts to strengthen integrity and athlete protection.
“We want to know everyone working with athletes. Coaches, technical officials, drivers, cooks—anyone supporting athletes. This is part of strengthening integrity and ensuring only qualified people work within athletics,” he said.
He encouraged the graduates to continue advancing their knowledge through World Athletics’ education pathway.
“This is only the beginning. Continue learning, upgrade your qualifications and strive for excellence. Don’t let us down—go out there and build the next generation of champions,” Tuwei told the graduates.
International partnership
H.E. Gideon Behar, Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya, reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Kenya through sports, youth empowerment and environmental initiatives.
“Our partnership with Kenya extends beyond sport. We remain committed to supporting youth development, international training programmes and climate action because sport has the power to unite communities and create lasting impact,” Behar said.
The ambassador also pledged Israel’s support for Athletics Kenya’s environmental initiatives, including collaboration on tree-planting programmes and clean-air campaigns, saying sport can play a significant role in addressing climate change while bringing nations together.
Modern coaching
Aberdare Sports Club Director Georgine Munene said coaches remain the backbone of every athlete’s success and called for greater adoption of sports science and technology.
“A coach is one of the most important people in an athlete’s development. Technical knowledge, sports science and modern coaching methods must continue evolving if we are to produce world-class athletes,” she said.
Munene added that investing in coach education is essential if Kenya is to remain competitive on the global stage.
The 27 graduates received their World Athletics Level One Coaching Certificates, the first step in the World Athletics coaching education pathway, equipping them with internationally recognised skills in athlete development, coaching methodology and athlete welfare.
The graduation comes as Athletics Kenya continues to invest in coach education as part of broader efforts to strengthen grassroots athletics, improve athlete welfare, uphold integrity and ensure Kenya remains among the world’s leading athletics nations.