123 athletes to fly the Kenyan flag in the Commonwealth Games

The National Olympics Committee, the body tasked with preparing Team Kenya intends to send a total of 123 athletes to the to Commonwealth Games slated for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham

The 20 teams that will represent the country in Birmingham will share the 123 slots with the principles of allocation being aimed at having ; all Commonwealth Sports participating, sports with podium finish potential and exposure for developing sports – required to aim at fielding athletes under 25 years of age fighting for the slots.

Athletics Kenya will have the largest contingent of 45 athletes, considering most of Kenya’s medals have come from athletics. Other sports have been allocated the remaining slots based on their current & previous performance.

NOC-K Secretary General, Francis Mutuku said, ‘We have agreed jointly with the Ministry of Sports, we are going for improved performance at the Games. NOC-K has monitored closely the selection criteria of the teams, to ensure that the best Kenyan athletes are selected to represent the country.’

Thus, NOC-K through the Ministry of Sports has ensured the camp begins early enough. With 64 days to go, teams commenced residential camp at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani on May 21st.

The Chef De Mission for the Birmingham Games, John Ogolla assured of the commitment to good preparations for the Games.

“With the local camp having started on 21st May, most teams are in Kasarani. Those sports whose training facilities are not in good proximity to Kasarani are being facilitated to train at satellite venues.” he said.

"The organisers have been giving us regular updates on the preparations in Birmingham, and we are happy with what is on the ground so far.Team Kenya will be in three villages, which gives us additional logistics and administration needs, but we are planning sufficiently for this. The villages are at Birmingham University, University of Warwick and NEC Hotels in Birmingham. The sports are spread between the villages based on proximity to the competition venues," he added.

As of Wednesday 25th May 2022, 10 teams had reported at Kasarani . The teams are; Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Hockey, Weightlifting, Basketball 3x3, Wheelchair Basketball, Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Cycling.Lawn Bowls, Squash, Swimming and Beach Volleyball will be training in satellite camps.

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Teams yet to report to camp are Athletics, Triathlon, Badminton, Rugby & Table Tennis. Rugby and Table Tennis are in competitions abroad, while the others are yet to select their final teams.

The Marathon team is the only confirmed Athletics team and are already in training at their various camps in Ngong, Kapsabet, Iten & Nyeri.The General Team Manager, Evans Bosire will be in charge of operations at the camp.

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Speaking on athletes’ welfare and government funding, NOC-K's first Vice President Shadrack Maluki thanked the government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage for the financial support availed thus far to facilitate for the preparations.

‘We want to thank Amina Mohamed and the Principal Secretary Joe Okudo through the Ministry of Sports who have ensured we have settled into camp and preparations towards the Games are ongoing.The principal funding of the Commonwealth Games is by Government. The budget has gone through the required process of approvals, with NOC-K ensuring that we take care of the Team’s crucial needs while remaining prudent," he said.

Last weekend, weekend, Ogolla, Tergat and Mutuku, visited the Team Kenya marathon team in Eldoret, where four males and four females have officially begun camp to break the duck at the games. Athletics Kenya handed the team to (NOCK) with officials confidently saying that they had selected the "strongest team" to win the marathon double in Birmingham.