The fourth edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic has received a major financial boost after the state, through the Ministry of Sports pumped in Sh320m yesterday.

Last week, the competition that is just four days away received a premier sponsorship of Sh 60m from title sponsors Absa Bank.

Over 230 world class athletes from 40 nationalities are expected to participate in this year’s Kip Keino Classic. Gate charges have been waived and the spectators will enjoy the spectacle free of charge.

Speaking during the sponsorship function at the Kenya Cultural Centre in Nairobi, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba rallied Kenyans to come out in large numbers on Saturday in solidarity with local athletes and to sample an array of world beaters on display.

“It will be criminal if we don’t fill Kasarani Stadium on Saturday. Let us fill the stadium to cheer and support our own and watch other top global athletes who will be competing on that day. We will also have top notch entertainment. We will have a ‘sherehe’ corner at Kasarani and I am informed that big name artistes like Kaligraph Jones will be performing live at the venue,” Namwamba told People Daily Sport.

Five-time World Athletics Championships gold medallist Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce who on Monday was named the Laureus sportswoman of the year award was due to land in Nairobi at 9pm yesterday ahead of the Saturday show.

The Jamaican sprint-sensation and ‘fan favourite’ has expressed her delirium in coming back to Nairobi and being part of the Absa Kipkeino Classic once more.

“I will be racing in the 100m, last year was awesome and fantastic. The stadium was filled with so much excitement, noise, music and the crowd was so much fun. So make sure you come again to the stadium, we look forward to some fast times and rock the stadium again like we did last year. See you in Nairobi,” Fraser-Pryce said.

Meanwhile, Job Ogweno Ojwado from Taita Taveta County has been declared winner of the Talanta Hela logo competition. By winning the challenge, Ogweno, 28, took home a prize money of Sh 300,000. James Mundia finished second to bag Sh 200,000 while Sydney Maranga was ranked third and was awarded Sh 100,000.