Safaricom SOYA Awards to Focus on Raising Awareness on Clean Sports

NAIROBI, Kenya – October 21st 2015… The Sports Personality Of The Year Awards (SOYA Awards) has been scheduled for January 15th 2016 in Nairobi. The annual gala, which seeks to recognise outstanding achievements in Kenyan sports, will this year tackle the issue of doping among local athletes with the aim of keeping sports clean.

The theme is inspired by recent revelations of doping by some Kenyan athletes, and hopes to raise more awareness among athletes and sports fans on the dangers of use of performance enhancing drugs, as well as inspire all stakeholders to take an active role in ensuring that our sports men and women stay clean.

“SOYA Awards was founded to recognize and award outstanding achievements attained through hard work, discipline and dedication. The entry of cheating by use of drugs or any other method of unfair play has no place in the awards or in sport, which is why we have chosen to raise awareness on the matter using this platform,” said SOYA Awards Founder and Chairman Paul Tergat. “Sports thrives best in a clean environment, and it is our duty to do what we can to create and protect a drug-free environment.”

The awards are expected to be very competitive following the sterling performances of athletes in various disciplines this year, most notably at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in August.

“We look forward to an exciting contest among the nominees in the various categories. As is SOYA’s tradition we will award the best of the best, so this year’s panel of judges has the unenviable task of selecting a few winners from a big pool of athletes,” added Mr. Tergat. “SOYA Awards was founded on the goodwill of sports enthusiasts and as we celebrate our 12th anniversary, we thank the sponsors who have stood by us and believed in our vision, including Safaricom, Multichoice Kenya, Super Sport and Kenya Tourism Board.” 

Safaricom has this year renewed its sponsorship of the event with a cheque of Kshs.15 million, in line with the company’s tradition of supporting local sports events and transforming lives through sports.

“It is an honour to be part of an event that recognizes and awards excellence in sports; an event that reminds our athletes that despite the various challenges they face on their journeys to victory, they are appreciated,” said Joe Ogutu, Director for Strategy and Innovation at Safaricom. “Safaricom has a long history of supporting sports in Kenya and we remain committed to supporting our sporting heroes, be it through sponsorship of events such as these or organizing events such as the Safaricom Athletics Series together with other partners.”

Nominations are open to the public, which can nominate the best sportsmen and women, sports federations, coaches and community heroes – recognised for their personal initiatives to promote sports within their communities – via: Facebook (Soya Awards Kenya), Twitter (@soyaawards) or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nominations can also be delivered to any of the SOYA-affiliated sports federations or to the SOYA Secretariat at FineTouch Communications, Golf Course Phase 2, Hse No. 265

NAIROBI, Kenya – October 21st 2015… The Sports Personality Of The Year Awards (SOYA Awards) has been scheduled for January 15th 2016 in Nairobi. The annual gala, which seeks to recognise outstanding achievements in Kenyan sports, will this year tackle the issue of doping among local athletes with the aim of keeping sports clean.

The theme is inspired by recent revelations of doping by some Kenyan athletes, and hopes to raise more awareness among athletes and sports fans on the dangers of use of performance enhancing drugs, as well as inspire all stakeholders to take an active role in ensuring that our sports men and women stay clean.

“SOYA Awards was founded to recognize and award outstanding achievements attained through hard work, discipline and dedication. The entry of cheating by use of drugs or any other method of unfair play has no place in the awards or in sport, which is why we have chosen to raise awareness on the matter using this platform,” said SOYA Awards Founder and Chairman Paul Tergat. “Sports thrives best in a clean environment, and it is our duty to do what we can to create and protect a drug-free environment.”

The awards are expected to be very competitive following the sterling performances of athletes in various disciplines this year, most notably at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in August.

“We look forward to an exciting contest among the nominees in the various categories. As is SOYA’s tradition we will award the best of the best, so this year’s panel of judges has the unenviable task of selecting a few winners from a big pool of athletes,” added Mr. Tergat. “SOYA Awards was founded on the goodwill of sports enthusiasts and as we celebrate our 12th anniversary, we thank the sponsors who have stood by us and believed in our vision, including Safaricom, Multichoice Kenya, Super Sport and Kenya Tourism Board.” 

Safaricom has this year renewed its sponsorship of the event with a cheque of Kshs.15 million, in line with the company’s tradition of supporting local sports events and transforming lives through sports.

“It is an honour to be part of an event that recognizes and awards excellence in sports; an event that reminds our athletes that despite the various challenges they face on their journeys to victory, they are appreciated,” said Joe Ogutu, Director for Strategy and Innovation at Safaricom. “Safaricom has a long history of supporting sports in Kenya and we remain committed to supporting our sporting heroes, be it through sponsorship of events such as these or organizing events such as the Safaricom Athletics Series together with other partners.”

Nominations are open to the public, which can nominate the best sportsmen and women, sports federations, coaches and community heroes – recognised for their personal initiatives to promote sports within their communities – via: Facebook (Soya Awards Kenya), Twitter (@soyaawards) or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nominations can also be delivered to any of the SOYA-affiliated sports federations or to the SOYA Secretariat at FineTouch Communications, Golf Course Phase 2, Hse No. 265