NOCK unveils elite athlete scholarships to power Kenya’s road to LA 2028 Olympics

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has taken a major step in strengthening Team Kenya’s Olympic pipeline after officially launching the NOC-K Individual Athlete Scholarship Programme ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The programme, rolled out on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in partnership with Olympic Solidarity, is designed to offer targeted, athlete-centred support to elite Kenyan athletes with proven potential to qualify for and compete at the Olympic Games and other major international competitions.

Eight athletes drawn from a wide range of sporting disciplines were named as the first beneficiaries, marking the first time individual Kenyan athletes have received Olympic Solidarity scholarships, following earlier support extended to the national women’s hockey team.

The inaugural recipients are tennis star Angella Okutoyi, shooter Priscilla Mburu Wangui, weightlifters Joshua Amunga Mboya and Juliana Anyango Ongonga, swimmers Haniel Maindi Bwaku Kudwoli and Sara Faustyna Mose, fencer Alexandra Ndolo, and beach wrestler Mahabila Mathayo Matonya.

Each athlete will benefit from the scholarship programme running from 2025 to August 2028, a critical window in the Olympic qualification cycle. The support will cater for training, international competition exposure, coaching, and athlete welfare—key pillars for sustained high-performance preparation.

Okutoyi, the 2023 African Games champion, is among the standout beneficiaries. She has already begun the 2026 season in impressive fashion after winning the W35 ITF Singles title and improving her world ranking. Having narrowly missed qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the scholarship boosts her renewed push to become Kenya’s first Olympic tennis representative.

Fencer Alexandra Ndolo, who made history as Kenya’s first Olympic fencer, will be targeting a second appearance at the Games, while shooter Priscilla Mburu aims to become only the second Kenyan shooter to compete at the Olympics after gaining valuable experience during the Paris 2024 qualification cycle.

Swimmers Mose and Kudwoli continue their Olympic qualification journeys, while beach wrestler Matonya and weightlifters Amunga and Ongonga reflect NOCK’s commitment to supporting talent across both mainstream and emerging sports.

Speaking during the launch, NOCK President Shadrack Maluki said the programme signals a deliberate shift towards early, structured and sustainable athlete development.

“This programme is a clear demonstration of our athlete-centred approach as NOCK. We are intentionally investing in individual athletes who have shown the potential, discipline, and commitment required to compete at the highest level. Through our partnership with Olympic Solidarity, we are ensuring that our athletes receive the support they need during the most critical years of their Olympic qualification journey. Our goal is not just participation, but meaningful representation and improved performance for Team Kenya at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games,” Maluki said.

The initiative reinforces NOCK’s long-term vision of building a stronger, more competitive Olympic team through strategic partnerships, careful planning, and targeted investment in elite talent.