Govt succumbs to pressure, raises ADAK budget to Ksh185M
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 3, 2025The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has welcomed the government’s decision to restore its funding for the 2024–2025 financial year.
“This critical funding decision by the Government of Kenya marks a major step forward in the country’s efforts to uphold the integrity of sport and reinforces the nation’s commitment to the global anti-doping agenda,” the release stated.
The budget had been slashed drastically to just Ksh20 million, raising alarm both locally and internationally. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) flagged the issue during a 2024 audit, warning that Kenya risked non-compliance with global anti-doping standards.
But after months of lobbying, the funding has now been raised to Ksh185 million.
“This is not just about money—it shows Kenya is serious about clean sport,” ADAK said in a statement.
The agency thanked President William Ruto, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Parliamentary Sports Committee, and the National Treasury for stepping in. The restored funds will help ADAK ramp up its testing, education and investigations, which had all been under pressure due to the earlier budget cut.
Agency surpasses testing target
Despite the challenges, ADAK said it managed to conduct 4,161 doping tests in the 2023/24 financial year—well above its target of 3,500. The agency also credited its ongoing partnership with the Athletics Integrity Unit and Athletics Kenya, which has helped strengthen its efforts.
Education remains a key part of ADAK’s strategy. Through outreach in schools and sports clubs, the agency is spreading awareness about the dangers of doping. A major win last year was getting anti-doping lessons added to the national school curriculum, with support from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
Looking ahead, ADAK plans to build a network of anti-doping ambassadors and increase its presence in training camps. It is also working closely with international bodies to ensure Kenyan athletes are ready and clean ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. The agency reaffirmed its full commitment to protecting the integrity of sport and hopes the 2025/26 budget will see further increases to support its mission.