IN PICTURES:Kid's Athletics Mombasa Edition 2025

 The event featured a variety of engaging activities, including Formula 1 sprints, sack races, shuttle relays, forward squat jumps, tyre tunnel runs, tyre rolling, and rope skipping.

Children from across the country participated in the program, with representation from the Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, Eastern, Central, and Coast regions.

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Kid's Athletics Applauded for Instilling Strong Sports Foundations in Children

 

Kids taking part during Kids Athletics Relays in Mombasa

The Kids Athletics Program plays a vital role in establishing a strong foundation for sports among children in Kenya, Director  General Basic Education in the Ministry of Education Dr. Elyas Abdi has emphasized.

Speaking during the Athletics Kenya Kids’ Athletics Relays, which were integrated into the ongoing Junior and Primary School Term One National Games held at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Dr. Abdi noted that the initiative introduces children to sports at an early age, promoting long-term athletic development.

“This program is instrumental in mentoring our young children and helping them discover and develop their talents from an early stage,” said Dr. Abdi.

Kids taking part in shuttle relays in the  AK Kids Athletics at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa

He commended Athletics Kenya and the Ministry of Education for their collaboration in sustaining talent development through the Kids Athletics Program. The initiative, which was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2016, reflects a joint commitment to nurturing future champions.

“It's truly inspiring to see young children showcasing their talents in these exciting events. I urge them to continue practicing what they have learned here when they return to their schools. Let them actively participate in athletics and other sports as we continue integrating sports into the education system,” he added.

Director General Ministry of Education Dr. Elyas Abdi interacting with kids as they prepare for the Kids Athletics at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.

The event featured a variety of engaging activities, including Formula 1 sprints, sack races, shuttle relays, forward squat jumps, tyre tunnel runs, tyre rolling, and rope skipping.

Children from across the country participated in the program, with representation from the Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, Eastern, Central, and Coast regions.

Kids Athletics is not only crucial for early talent identification but also serve as a pipeline for developing future elite athletes, ensuring a steady continuity of sporting excellence in Kenya.

 

Squat Jump Relays


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AK holds Kid's Athletics relays for children in Mombasa

 

Athletics Kenya (AK) kicked off  its activities in preparation for the upcoming World Kids' Athletics event scheduled for May this year. 

This year’s theme, "Relay Around the World," draws inspiration from the prestigious World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou and aims to set a new global record for the largest kids’ relay race.

Today, AK hosted an exciting series of children’s athletics races at Ronald Ngala Primary School in Mombasa County. Local children participated in several relay events, showcasing their talent and passion for the sport.

"Children possess an incredible amount of untapped potential, and our goal is to introduce athletics at an early age to help promote a lifelong love for the sport," said Barnaba Korir, AK's Youth Development Director. "I am impressed by the impact of this initiative, which has seen numerous kids across the country actively engage in athletics activities."

AK will hold another kids’ athletics event tomorrow at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, continuing the momentum of promoting athletics among the kids as the Junior Secondary and Primary School Term One games are currently underway in the region.

The World Kids' Athletics event will take place on May 7th, 2025. In the lead-up to the event, federations around the world will host various activities, contributing to the effort of setting the world record for the largest kids’ relay.

"AK will organize similar events across the country as part of the preparations for the grand finale in May, and we are excited to involve as many children as possible in this global initiative," Korir added.

This event marks a significant milestone in Athletics Kenya's commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes while celebrating the power of sport to unite young people around the world.

World Athletics announces Olympic champion Tebogo as Kids’ Athletics ambassador

 

Kids' Athletics ambassador Letsile Tebogo (© Monirul Bhuiyan for World Athletics)

BY WORLD ATHLETICS

World Athletics is proud to announce Botswana’s Olympic gold medallist and World Athlete of the Year 2024 Letsile Tebogo as an ambassador for its Kids’ Athletics programme, a global initiative that uses the power of athletics to inspire children across the world to be more active.

Tebogo captured the world’s attention when he blazed his way to Olympic 200m glory in Paris in 19.46, making him the fifth-fastest man in history. As a young role model and a champion of the sport, the 21-year-old is committed to using his platform to encourage the next generation to embrace athletics for fun, fitness and personal growth.

Expressing his excitement about the role, Tebogo said: “Athletics has given me so many opportunities, and I want to inspire young people to believe in themselves, dream big and enjoy the sport. The Kids’ Athletics programme is about making athletics accessible and fun, and I am honoured to be part of this initiative to help develop future champions – on and off the track.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “I am always delighted when a talent like Letsile Tebogo emerges through our competition structures. It shows other young talented athletes the pathway. Letsile is confident, determined and humble and is already inspiring a whole generation of young potential athletes and children as they learn to make sport part of every day. This is why I am so pleased Letsile has agreed to be an ambassador for Kids’ Athletics.”

The collaboration will involve Tebogo taking part in the Relay Around the World Challenge ahead of this year’s Kids’ Athletics Day – an annual celebration of children being active and participating in athletics – which will take place on 7 May 2025.

This year’s theme, Relay Around the World, is inspired by the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China. The challenge is the biggest, most inclusive Kids’ Athletics participation activity yet, designed to inspire the athletes of tomorrow and get kids moving everywhere.

More information will be released when the campaign launches on 6 April 2025.

Primary and Junior secondary school pupils display athletic talent as school games gets underway

 

Athletics Kenya (AK) remains committed to collaborating with schools in promoting an environment that continues to serve as a breeding ground for emerging athletic talent.

The federation recognizes the significant role of primary school athletics, aligning it with AK's Kids Athletics program, which provides young athletes with an early platform to discover and nurture their abilities.

Today, the Nandi Central region witnessed a remarkable display of talent during the Term One Primary and Junior Secondary School games. The event showcased the incredible potential of young athletes, further highlighting the importance of these school competitions in identifying and developing the next generation of athletic stars.

Schools prepares for World Kids Athletics Day

Kids from Kermetio in Uasin Gishu takes part in Sack relays ahead of kid's athletics day.

As the countdown to the World Kids Athletics Day intensifies, various schools are gearing up for the event with a series of exciting athletic activities. This year's theme, "Relay Around the World," inspired by the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, is aimed at setting a new record for the largest kids' relay worldwide.

One of the schools already making strides in its preparation is The Rock Kermetio in Uasin Gishu County. Today, the school's pupils engaged in an array of fun and competitive activities, including sack relays, potato-and-spoon relays, 4x100m relays, and high jump, all of which showcased their energy and enthusiasm for the upcoming event.

In addition to these activities, the school has already seen remarkable success from some of its students, who performed exceptionally well in the 2025 Sirikwa Classic World Athletics Cross Country Tour at Lobo village in Eldoret.

Barnaba Korir, the Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director, emphasized the importance of these early preparations for the children. "We are thrilled to see schools actively participating in the Kids Athletics program," Korir said. "It's crucial to provide young athletes with the opportunity to engage in these activities as it helps develop their skills and promotes a love for sports from an early age."

Korir also highlighted Athletics Kenya’s continued commitment to supporting these schools. "To ensure that schools are fully equipped for success, we will be providing training resources and facilities to enhance the children's performance," he added. "This will not only improve their chances of success but also inspire a new generation of athletes."

As more schools join the preparations for the World Kids Athletics Day, Athletics Kenya is confident that this year’s event will be a milestone, inspiring future athletes and bringing communities together through the spirit of sport.

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DOCUMENTARY: AK'S Kids Athletics Program, shaping the champions of tomorrow

 Kenya, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest athletes, owes much of its success to the rich talent nurtured in the north rift’s breathtaking terrains. These high-altitude landscapes serve as the hidden cradle of champions, with athletes continually conquering the global stage year after year.

A country defined by generations of excellence, Kenya’s dominance in athletics is no accident. It is the result of years of dedicated effort and careful planning, ensuring that the future of athletics is secure. Athletics Kenya (AK) has long recognized that to maintain this tradition, it must start at the very roots—cultivating young talent from an early age through Kids Athletics program.

Kids Athletics, an initiative that focuses on identifying and nurturing potential from the beginning. Through this program, hundreds of children are introduced to the world of athletics at a formative age. It is a carefully structured environment, designed not just to create champions, but to build a pipeline of future athletes who will continue Kenya's legacy of excellence.