Absa unveils KES 60 million investment into the 2025 athletics calendar
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 24 – Absa Bank Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment towards advancing sports and athletics in the country unveiling a total investment of KES 60 million into the 2025 athletics calendar.
The investment includes title sponsorship of this year’s Absa Kipkeino Classic, The Absa Kipkeino Classic 2025 will be held on 31 May 2025 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata and will bring some of the biggest global and local names in athletics to compete on Kenyan soil.
KES 40 million of the total investment goes directly to Athletics Kenya as rights fees and towards supporting the successful planning and execution of the 2025 Absa Kipkeino Classic event with the remaining amounts go to sponsoring other athletic events, including the Absa Sirikwa Classic, which took place in February this year, as well as the upcoming Athletics Kenya youth engagement.
Speaking during the official launch of the Kipkeino Classic Tour, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, lauded the private sector for supporting the government in growing sports in the country, singling out Absa Kenya.
“The Kipkeino Classic has grown into a world-class event in 6 years, and this has inspired the government to make more commitments towards the event, I want to thank Absa Kenya for remaining steadfast in consistently supporting Athletics Kenya for the past 6 years, underscoring the value of public-private partnerships in growing sports in the country,” said CS Mvurya.
Absa Bank Kenya Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mwihaki Wachira, reaffirmed the Bank’s ongoing commitment to investing in sports, including athletics as a way of supporting sporting talent in the country.
“We believe sport is a powerful force for national unity, pride, and empowering communities for progress, Over the last decade we have invested over KES 1.3 billion in Kenyan sports from athletics to golf and football, seeing them as integral in connecting with Kenyans and as platforms to tell the inspiring stories of our athletes,” said Ms. Wachira.
“Our partnership with Athletics Kenya, now in its 6th year, is about growing the sustainability of athletics and sports in general, Through this collaboration, Absa Kip Keino Classic has become a world-class event, attracting global champions to compete in a country well known for its athletics prowess and showcasing Kenya as a serious athletics destination.” she added.
In addition, this will be the 6th consecutive year that Absa Bank is supporting the Absa Kipkeino Classic as a title sponsor underscoring the Bank’s long-term investment in athletics as a tool for national unity and pride, youth empowerment and social impact.
This year’s sponsorship brings Absa’s total investment in the global showcase to KES 200 million over the past six years.
Athletics Kenya President,General Jackson Tuwei, expressed optimism that thousands of fans would turn up at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, with millions more tuning in globally.
“The Absa Kipkeino Classic has become one of Africa’s most memorable events thanks to strong partnerships like the one Athletics Kenya has with Absa, we look forward to welcoming world-class athletes to the Kenyan stage and assure the public of a thrilling day of sports as the world turns its attention to Kenya,” said General Tuwei.
“This will be the perfect battle ground ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.”
The Absa Kipkeino Classic 2025 will also feature kids’ athletics as part of the World Athletics programme, which is designed to inspire the next generation of athletes.
