Leading sports personalities were celebrated at the 19th edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) Gala on Friday night, with marathon great Eliud Kipchoge and 1,500 metres queen Faith Chepng’etich taking home the top honours.
Kipchoge, who reclaimed the Sportsman of the Year title he had lost to sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala last year, improved his marathon world record to 2:01:09 when he won in Berlin on September 25 and also won the Tokyo Marathon.
Chepngetich, who won the 2021 title in Kakamega, recaptured the world 1,500m she had lost to Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan in 2019 by clocking three minutes and 52.96 seconds in Eugene on July 18.
“I hope 2023 will be another special year for me,” said Chepngetich after receiving the Sportswoman of the Year accolade.
The Most Promising girl award went to Medina Okot (Basketball), while the Most Promising boy award went to Andrew Wahome (golf).
Japhet Munala was named Coach of the Year for his work with the volleyball team, and KCB Volleyball Club and Kabras Sugar rugby team took home the Sports Team of the Year awards for women and men respectively.
Other notable winners included Hellen Wawira (Powerlifting) for Sportswoman Living with Disability, Simon Kibai (Deaflympian) for Sportsman Living with Disability, and Beatrice Chebet, who settled for third despite her impressive performances last year, including a silver in the 5,000m race at the World Championships in Eugene and a gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.