As Kenya’s junior athletics team officially kicks off its training for the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Under-18 and Under-20 Championships, the focus is not only on performance, but also on protection.
Under a cool Nairobi morning at Kasarani’s outside arena track, the team’s first speed workout session drew the presence of Athletics Kenya officials, coaches, and team managers.
Among them was Elizabeth Keitany, the General Team Manager and Safeguarding Officer for the junior team, who emphasized the importance of athlete welfare throughout their training and competitive journey.
“I want to see that all our athletes are safe—from their training, to where they sleep, to where they eat.”
This year’s championships will take place in Abeokuta, Nigeria, from July 16 to July 20, 2025, a key continental event that will bring together Africa’s most promising young athletes for five days of competitive action in track and field.
Keitany noted that preparations are already well underway, with strong support from the Athletics Kenya (AK) leadership. “I must say our federation does well in preparations, and we’ve received proper support from our federation president, our treasurer, and the director of youth development. We are set to train these athletes, and they’re responding very well.”
In her dual role, Keitany is tasked not only with overseeing the team’s logistics but also with ensuring athletes are shielded from any forms of abuse, harassment, or exploitation—a role she takes seriously, particularly in an era where athlete safeguarding has become central to youth sports.
“We have the best athletes, so we want to make sure that we have taken care of them and protected them,” she said. “We protect these athletes from harassment, from exploitation, and all that kind of abuse.”
Her words echoed through the trackside as young runners dashed in perfectly timed intervals—some with dreams of standing on the podium in Nigeria, others just beginning to find their stride on the international stage.
Keitany also expressed gratitude to the Government of Kenya, which continues to provide crucial backing through the Ministry of Sports. “I must sincerely thank the Government of Kenya for the support they have given us through the Minister of Sports,” she said.
According to Keitany, the government, in partnership with Athletics Kenya, currently supports over 60 athletics training camps across the country. These camps play a pivotal role in scouting and nurturing emerging talent from grassroots to elite levels.
“These camps are being monitored closely by the federation,” she added. “Especially the youth director, Barnaba Korin, has been monitoring how the camps have been going. He’s been sending us out to see that our girls and boys are being treated well and taken care of.”
As the countdown to the CAA U18 and U20 African Championships in Abeokuta begins, Kenya’s focus remains twofold: preparing medal-winning athletes and fostering a safe, nurturing environment that allows every young talent to thrive—on and off the track.
By Robert Kibet -Freelance journalist
