Scholarships power Kenya’s push for expanded multi-discipline presence at Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
JOSPHAT KEBUT & Agencies
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya has begun its plans to expand its presence in the upcoming Olympic games beyond six sporting disciplines at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games following the launch of the NOC-K Individual Athlete Scholarship Programme.
The programme, launched by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) in partnership with Olympic Solidarity, is designed to strengthen Kenya’s preparation pathway by offering early, structured and athlete-centred support to elite performers across different sports.
NOCK President Shadrack Maluki said the initiative reflects the committee’s commitment to ensuring that more Kenyan athletes qualify for the Olympics compared to Paris 2024, where the country was represented in six disciplines.
He assured Kenyans that LA 2028 will feature a broader Team Kenya across more sports.
“Our core business as NOCK is to ensure that all athletes are fully supported on their pathway to qualification for Los Angeles 2028,” Maluki said.
“We are open to helping all athletes so that Kenya is fully represented, and we will be represented by more than the six disciplines that competed in Paris.”
The Individual Athlete Scholarship Programme targets elite athletes who have shown clear potential to compete at major international events, including the Olympic Games. The scholarships will run from 2025 to August 2028, covering a crucial phase of Olympic qualification.
Under the programme, athletes will receive financial and technical support to aid training, competition exposure, coaching and overall athlete welfare. NOCK says this structured support is essential to help athletes maintain high performance levels and consistently participate in international qualification events.
Maluki described the scholarships as a major boost to athletes’ careers, noting that they form a key part of the LA 2028 preparation pathway.
He added that the support provided through NOCK and the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity programme will help athletes meet critical requirements in their Olympic journeys.
During the launch, NOCK named the first eight beneficiaries of the programme from a wide range of sports. They are Angella Okutoyi (tennis), Priscilla Mburu Wangui (shooting – air rifle), Joshua Amunga Mboya (weightlifting), Juliana Anyango Ongonga (weightlifting), Haniel Maindi Bwaku Kudwoli (swimming), Alexandra Ndolo (fencing), Mahabila Mathayo Matonya (wrestling), and Sara Faustyna Mose (swimming).
They become the first Kenyan athletes to receive individual Olympic Solidarity scholarships under the new programme, following earlier support extended to the Kenya women’s hockey team. Their selection highlights NOCK’s intention to invest beyond traditional Olympic sports.
Tennis player Angella Okutoyi, the 2023 African Games champion, has already started the 2026 season strongly after winning the W35 ITF Singles title and improving her ITF Singles Ranking to 868 as of 5 January 2026. After narrowly missing qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, she is now targeting LA 2028, where she hopes to become the first Kenyan tennis player to compete at the Games.
Fencer Alexandra Ndolo is aiming for a second Olympic appearance after making history as the first Kenyan fencer at the Games, while shooter Priscilla Mburu Wangui, a 2023 African Air Rifle silver medallist, is seeking to become only the second Kenyan shooter to compete at the Olympics.
Swimmers Sara Faustyna Mose and Haniel Maindi Bwaku Kudwoli, beach wrestler Mahabila Mathayo Matonya, and weightlifters Joshua Amunga Mboya and Juliana Anyango Ongonga complete the list of beneficiaries.
Maluki also encouraged athletes who did not receive scholarships to engage NOCK through their federations as preparations for LA 2028 continue.
