AK strike big Lotto jackpot

Lotto Foundation chief Executive Officer Brian Waluchio (left) addressing a press conference alongside Athletics Kenya President Rtd Lt Gen Jack Tuwei on February 3, 2017 at Riadha House. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Athletics Kenya on Friday received a major boost ahead of the February 18 National Cross Country Championships when gaming firm Lotto Kenya ploughed Sh12 million into sponsoring the competition.
  • However, Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei indicated that the championship, planned for Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens, won’t be an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) permit meeting as they could not get sponsorship early enough to secure permit rights from IAAF.
  • Tuwei said a squad of 38 athletes will be selected during the championships to prepare for the World Cross Country Championships programmed for March 26 in Kampala.

Athletics Kenya on Friday received a major boost ahead of the February 18 National Cross Country Championships when gaming firm Lotto Kenya ploughed Sh12 million into sponsoring the competition.

However, Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei indicated that the championship, planned for Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens, won’t be an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) permit meeting as they could not get sponsorship early enough to secure permit rights from IAAF.

Tuwei said a squad of 38 athletes will be selected during the championships to prepare for the World Cross Country Championships programmed for March 26 in Kampala.

Kenya will be represented by six athletes (three men and three women) with four to compete in the relay races that will feature for the first time at the World Cross Country Championships. The rest of the races — the senior men’s and women’s and under-20 men and women — will have the usual number of six athletes with four to score.

Kenya’s team will once again move to camp at the Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu on February 22 before departure for the World Cross Country Championships on March 23. Tuwei was speaking when receiving the sponsorship cheque from Lotto Kenya chief executive officer Brian Waluchio at Riadha House,

“We want to thank Lotto for their rescue since this will help us prepare well for the World Cross,” said Tuwei, who was flanked by senior vice president Paul Mutwii, treasurer David Miano and chief executive officer Susan Kamau.

Waluchio said their sponsorship was just the beginning of a long term partnership with athletics: “As a strategic partner, we want to create a blue print with AK to see what can be done in the sport moving forward.”