It’s that time of the year again when Kenyans shall be united in another realm when the country hosts the annual Absa Kipkeino Classic on Saturday.

The action-packed event that will be held at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani boasts top talents from Africa and other continents thus giving athletes a chance to compete at an international level. Athletes will compete at Gold level earning both prize money and world ranking points. The yearly tour was launched in 2020 and is taking shape to be a world-class event.

Going by the high profile nature of the championship named after Kenya’s legendary track star Kichpoge Keino, we expect the 60,000-searter arena to be filled to the brim given that entry is free.

This is why Kenyans should be encouraged to cash in on the privilege and turn up in large numbers to spur on our athletes to victory.

But while it’s laudable for fans to fill the gallery to cheer Kenyan athletes, it must be acknowledged that our athletes have already marketed themselves outside our borders following scintillating performance internationally.

In other words, Kenya is a force to reckon with in world athletics circles. That said, we wish to take this early opportunity to thank the government for leading from the front by doling out the largest share of sponsorship money at Sh320 million, which shows that it is steadfast in ensuring athletics develop to the required levels.

The philanthropy is easily one of the most lucrative by the government with disciplines that have not been unlucky to receive such a sum drooling over and wishing they were beneficiaries of the same. Like the government, Absa Bank also needs a special congratulatory message for remaining the brand sponsor of the Classic, so are other co-sponsors like Safaricom.

There is a sense of acknowledgement that sponsors play a pivotal role in the success of sports in the country, which is why other corporate entities need to emulate Absa and Safaricom if the Classic is to continue distinguishing itself as a top-ranking one-day-meet athletics championship.

The security of fans also needs not be compromised and should be elaborate to a fault, hence the need to have total surveillance at all entry points.