Nairobi City Thunder lit up the 21st Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) Awards by clinching the coveted Men’s Team of the Year title on a night that also saw Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet crowned Kenya’s top sports personalities.

Kenya’s Junior Starlets affirmed a bold new era for youth talent at a dazzling ceremony held at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Thunder, who are set to become the first Kenyan team to feature in the prestigious Basketball Africa League (BAL), topped a glittering list of sports achievers on a night filled with celebration and historic recognition.

The side secured BAL qualification after a commanding 99-86 victory over Cape Verde’s Kriol Star Basketball in the Elite 16 East Division final at Nairobi’s Kasarani Gymnasium.

Their feat marks Kenya’s maiden appearance in the continental club tournament and underlines Thunder’s rapid rise on the African basketball scene.

Team captain Tyler Ongwae, while receiving the award, paid tribute to his teammates and the technical staff.

“This award is a recognition of the hard work we have put in. It’s also for our fans, we truly appreciate their support,” he added.
The Kenya Under-20 men’s side, Rising Stars, were runners-up in the Men’s Team of the Year category after finishing second at the U-20 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers in Tanzania, a result that earned them a place at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The Junior Starlets were crowned Women’s Team of the Year, capping a dream season that saw them become the first Kenyan team ever to qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Under-17 side sealed their spot at the 2024 global showpiece in the Dominican Republic, with Cheche’s tactical brilliance guiding them through a tough qualification path.

On the individual front, Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet took home the top honours, being named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively.

Wanyonyi, 20, was feted for a stellar season that saw him retain his Diamond League 800m title and smash the world road mile record in Germany with a time of 3:54.56.

The Paris 2024 800m gold medallist edged out Ronald Kwemoi and marathoner Benson Kipruto. “This award pushes me to aim higher. My dream is to take the world title this year,” Wanyonyi said, dedicating the award to his mother Margaret Nasimiyu.

Chebet, who dazzled the world with an unprecedented 10,000m and 5,000m double gold in Paris, finally clinched the Sportswoman of the Year title after four nominations.

The 25-year-old beat strong competition from Faith Kipyegon and Hellen Obiri. She made history as the first woman to run the 10,000m in under 29 minutes and holds the world record over the distance.

In the para-sports category, Paralympic long jump silver medallist Samon Ojuka and World Ability Youth Games double gold medallist Michelle Chepng’etich were named Sportsman and Sportswoman with a Disability.

Ojuka’s leap of 6.20m not only clinched silver in Paris but also shattered the African record, surpassing the 6.05m mark set by South Africa’s Andrea Dalle Ave in 2015. He edged out cyclist Kennedy Ogada and powerlifter Shadrack Muai, who finished second and third, respectively.

Sports Team (Men)

1.Thunder – Basketball
2.Rising Stars – National U-20
football team
3.Kenya Prisons – Volleyball

Sports Team (Women)

1.Junior Starlets – National U-17
football team
2.National Amputee Team – Football
3.Kenya Pipeline – Volleyball

Sportsman with Disability

1.Samson Ojuka – Paralympics,
Long Jump
2.Kennedy Ogada – Paralympics, Cycling
3.Shadrack Kipyegon – Powerlifting

Sportswoman with Disability

1.Michelle Chepng’etich –
Para-athletics, Discus and Shot out
2.Sheila Wanyonyi – Para-athletics,
Javelin
3.Valerie Olesia – Powerlifting

Sportsman of the Year

1.Emmauel Wanyonyi – Athletics
2.Ronald Kwemoi – Athletics
3.Benson Kipruto – Athletics

Sportswoman of the Year

1.Beatrice Chebet – Athletics
Faith Kipyegon – Athletics
3.Hellen Obiri – Athletics

Coach of the Year

1.Mildred Cheche – National U-17
Girls Football Team

School Team (Girls)

1.Kesogon – Volleyball
2.St Joseph’s – Rugby 7s
3.Butere – Basketball

School Team (Boys)

1.All Saints Embu – Rugby 15s
2.Friends School Kamusinga – Basketball
3.Musingu – Hockey

School Coach

1.Benson Mwenda – All Saints,
Embu Rugby Coach)

Hall of Fame

1.John Bobby Ogolla