Little was said about the double Paralympian champion Samuel Mushai, who bagged the 2017 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Award (SOYA) last night.
The Paralympian won the title as athletes dominated the annual awards held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and was also thew winner of Sportsman Living with Disability crown to pocket 1.3 million prize money.
The blind runner beat World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic and World Champion in the men’s steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto and Deaflympian Berlil Wamira.
But Obiri won the Sportswoman of the Year following her exploits on track in 2017.
In her category, Obiri faced off with two time world champion Edna Kiplagat, Kenya Lionesses winger Sinaida Aura, Malkia Strikers middle blocker Edith Wisa and World 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon.
Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto was named the 2017 Sportsman of the Year, beating world 1500m champion Elijah Manangoi, Kenya Simbas star Darwin Mukidza and the marathoner pair of Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kirui, who won the world title in London as well as the Boston Marathon.
Berlil Wamira who won two silver medals in the Deaflympis Games, scooped the Sportswoman Living with Disability Award.
Jimmy Kamande, the Kenya Under-19 Cricket was named the Coach of the Year ahead of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) RFC’s Curtis Olago, Kenya Lionesses’ Kevin Wambua and Vihiga United’s Edward Manoah.
The Kenya Under-19 Cricket Team won the men’s Sports Team ahead of Gor Mahia and KCB RFC.
The Kenya Lionesses was named the women’s Sports Team of the Year ahead of Telkom Orange.
Winners:
Sports personality of the year
Samuel Muchai (Paralympics)
Sports man of the Year
Conseslus Kipruto (Athletics)
Sportswoman of the Year
Hellen Obiri (Athletics)
Most Promising-Boy
Aman Gandhi (Cricket)
Most Promising Girl
Jackline Wambui (Athletics)
Sportsman Living with a Disability
Samuel Muchai (Paralympics)
Sportswoman Living with a Disability
Beryl Wamira (Deaflympics)
Coach of the Year
Jimmy Kamande (Cricket)
Team of the Year-Men
Kenya Cricket Under-19 (Cricket)
Team of the Year-Women
Kenya Lionesses (Rugby)
Sports Federation of the Year
Athletics Kenya
Hall of Fame
Allan Thigo(Soccer) and Stephen Muchoki (Boxing)
Community Hero
Rosemary Kapondi
Schools
School Team of the Year-Boys
Muhuri Muchiri (Rugby Sevens)
School Team of the Year-Girls
Wiyeta Girls (Soccer)
School Coach of the Year
Kikechi Kombo (Muhuri Muchiri-Rugby)
Most outstanding Player of the Year-Boy
Emmanuel Ndonga (Swimming)
Most outstanding Player of the Year -Girl
Faith Nyabera (Lawn Tennis)