By Reporter
The Kenya Defence Forces team that participated in and represented the country at the 2nd All-Africa Military Games in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2024 are yet to be feted. The question therefore is: when will they be honoured?
At the event, KDF athletes won medals across multiple disciplines, including athletics, boxing, kickboxing, shooting, judo, golf, and volleyball.
The achievements were publicly celebrated by the Ministry of Defence, and it was clearly communicated, both formally and informally, that medal winners would be acknowledged through a one-rank promotion, in line with long-standing military practice for exceptional sporting performance.
But one year down the line, the winners are yet to be acknowledged and promoted, and this silence is causing concern.
When Western Insight reached out for comment from the KDF spokesperson, Brigadier Njunguna, he did not pick our calls or respond to our text messages.
Sources said the affected athletes were wondering why they had been forgotten despite their service and delivery in sports on the international arena.
“Months have now passed, and the silence surrounding this issue has caused deep frustration and demoralisation among the athletes, many of whom sacrificed training time, personal resources, and endured injuries while representing the country with honour,” our sources revealed.
On the KDF website, they wrote: “On 26th November 2024, the quest for more medals at the All-Africa Military Games in Abuja, Nigeria, bore fruit as the World Cross Country gold medallist in Belgrade, Serbia, Cpl Daniel Munguti won a gold medal in the 1,500m, clocking 3:39.12 minutes in a tightly contested race, with his counterpart Spte Brian Kiptoo finishing fourth in 3:47.91.
In the women’s race, Spte Cynthia Chepng’eno, the Africa Cross Country 2024 champion in Tunisia, doubled her medal tally to two after she finished second in the 1,500m, winning a silver medal in this second edition of AMGA 2024.
The Paris Olympic semi-finalist, Spte Wiseman Were, exhibited his prowess in hurdles when he powered through the barriers to claim another gold for Team Kenya.
In field events, Lance Corporal Sarah Atieno determinately made a 14.63m throw, earning herself a gold medal in the women’s shot put event, making history for the team in field events. This was a dream come true for the KDF field event heroine, as she missed the 2024 All-Africa Games qualifier trials in Nairobi, where she recorded her personal best performance of 14.88m. It was a remarkable result for L/Cpl Atieno, who broke the glass ceiling in her first outing representing Kenya at an international event.
In golf, the KDF golf team concluded the second day of competition with a bang by collecting a bronze medal in overall performance.
During day one of the competition, Captain Brian Tororei collected four points for the team while playing the Stableford format, emerging second with 29 individual points, which earned Team Kenya four points. Ssgt Haron Wanyama also had a field day while playing against professional golfers from South Africa and Nigeria. In the stroke play category, he emerged third with four gross points, adding two more points to Team Kenya.
The Kenyan team emerged third in the foursome stroke play with two additional points, totalling eight points and earning a bronze medal. The ladies’ team was also exceptional, emerging fourth overall and missing the bronze medal by a single point. Team South Africa won gold with a total of 21 points, followed by Nigeria with 10 points.
The judo team concluded the day with a spectacular display of skill, determination, and resilience, as Cpl Marion Torotich won gold in the 57kg category, while Cpl Brian Kiptoo settled for bronze in the 81kg category.
This brought Kenya’s medal tally to 16 gold, 11 silver, and five bronze medals as the team entered day five of the athletics events.”
The tournament was themed “Enhancing Military Cooperation Through Sports”, with this year’s games aiming to strengthen military solidarity across Africa, promote African cultural diversity, and foster unity among nations.
In his address, Vice President Shettima welcomed participants to Abuja, emphasising the event’s role in bridging divides and showcasing Africa’s commitment to unity through sports. He noted that the games represented more than just competition — they highlighted a united African identity and symbolised a cooperative approach to regional security challenges.
Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, echoed these sentiments, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing collaboration within the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa. He described the games as an opportunity for African armed forces to engage in healthy competition, share best practices, and build relationships that contribute to continental stability.
The ceremony concluded with a grand fireworks display and the ceremonial lighting of the AMGA 2024 torch, symbolising the start of a vibrant celebration of sportsmanship, resilience, and military camaraderie across Africa.
