Seven Star Sportspeople Shortlisted for the SOYA Award

Rudisha, Wanyama, Dunford, Kemboi, Tarbei for top honours

Nairobi, November 14 Safaricom Sportsman of the Year Awards (SOYA) Panel of judges has narrowed down to seven sportsmen and women who will battle it out for the overall title during the event's Gala Night planned for the 6th of December at the Carnivore grounds.

With the exception of Celtic and Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama, the list is dominated by athletes who did duty for the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Topping the list for the top-most award is the world 800 meters record holders David Lekuta Rudisha. Rudisha not only won a gold medal in the London Olympic, but also broke his own record in the event after setting a new one of 1:40:91 thereby emerging as the Games' star attraction.

Rudisha has also been nominated for the IAAF Athlete of the Year Award alongside Jamaican multiple Olympic champion Usain Bolt and American 110m record holder Aries Merritt.

Ezekiel Kemboi, who was the only other gold medalist in London after winning the 3,000m steeplechase, also made the seven-man list for the top award. Kemboi is one of Kenya's most talented and consistent runners in the water and barrier event, which is considered the country's specialty.

Kenya's top swimmer Jason Dunford is the other favourite named for the title. Despite performing dismally at the Olympic Games, Dunford seems to have put his act together and continued to dominate the Fina/Arena swimming World Cup around the globe. He has so far won three gold, five silver and a bronze medal in the series.

Prior to the event, Dunford won three gold and two silver medals in the Africa Swimming Championships staged at Moi, Kasarani recently.

Paralympian Abraham Tarbei completes the men's list of top award. Tarbei is credited with having won a gold medal in the (T46) 1500m, where he also set a world record of 3:50:15. He also won bronze medal in the (T46) 800m, where he returned 1:56.

Recently Tarbei announced his interest in participating in events featuring able bodied athletes just like South-Africa's blade runner Oscar Pistorius.

Double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot and World Marathon Majors winner Mary Keitany are the only two female athletes gunning for the Sports Woman of the Year award. Vivian won silver in the 5,000m at the Olympic Games and settled for bronze in the 10,000m behind Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba and Sally Kipyego.

Leading integrated communications provider Safaricom Limited is sponsoring this year's awards for Kshs.7 million. The Sport Personality of the Year Awards which are in their 9th year are the country's most prestigious sports awards and they recognize excellence in all sporting disciplines.

About Safaricom

Sports Safaricom has had a longstanding tradition of sponsoring major sports events in the country. In 2008, the company offered cash incentives for the Olympics team and the Paralympics teams as motivation for a good performance. The telecoms company was the major sponsor of the 2010 African Athletics Championships, which were the first ever to take place in Kenya. Safaricom is also a major sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year Award-SOYA which honours excellence in athletics. The company is also associated with many local races both at the national and community level.

About SOYA

The Sports Personality of the Year Award was launched in 2004 by celebrated Kenyan athlete, Paul Tergat to celebrate and recognize star Kenyan sportsmen and women. The outstanding sports personality of the year is the one, who has not only brought fame to the motherland, but has also made many Kenyans proud in the course of the past year. The awards feature 15 distinct categories and the sports man and sports woman of the year categories.

PHARMACIST WINS MERCEDES IN SAFARICOM'S TIMIZA PROMOTION

Nairobi, November 2, 2012… Leading integrated communications service provider, Safaricom Limited, has today handed over a brand new Mercedes E-200 to Carol Adoga Mwanbihi, in the Timiza na M-PESA promotion grand draw.

Ms. Mwanbihi, who is a pharmacist working in Zimmerman Estate is a regular user of M-PESA who was totally floored by the phone call informing her of her good fortune. And as fate would have it, the 29 year old mother of one has earned the enviable distinction of having the luxurious vehicle as her first car. 

"For the many years that I have been using M-PESA, I never dreamt of being rewarded this way and I thank God for this amazing occurrence. This win will indeed change my fortunes," said Ms. Adoga.

The first born in a family of five added that she would eventually sell the vehicle and use funds raised from the transaction to start a business and support her family.

When handing over the keys to the luxury car this morning, Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said "In the last five years, M-PESA has grown from a money transfer service to a convenience lifestyle tool which now incorporates many other financial transactions. We have grand plans afoot to grow the brand even further as we continue to push our financial inclusion agenda."

Timiza na M-PESA competition was a four week promotion which kicked off on the 2nd October 2012 and ended on the 29th of October 2012. In total, the competition awarded over Ksh. 18 million to more than 600 customers with prizes ranging from Ksh 3,000-Ksh 25,000. The competition is part of the "Relax, you have got M-PESA" campaign which is anchored on the convenience that M-PESA offers customers. 

ENDS

About Safaricom-Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. 

Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 15 million customers and over 40,000 Agent outlets countrywide.

Rudisha, Wanyama, Dunford, Kemboi, Tarbei for top honours

Nairobi, November 14 Safaricom Sportsman of the Year Awards (SOYA) Panel of judges has narrowed down to seven sportsmen and women who will battle it out for the overall title during the event's Gala Night planned for the 6th of December at the Carnivore grounds.

With the exception of Celtic and Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama, the list is dominated by athletes who did duty for the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Topping the list for the top-most award is the world 800 meters record holders David Lekuta Rudisha. Rudisha not only won a gold medal in the London Olympic, but also broke his own record in the event after setting a new one of 1:40:91 thereby emerging as the Games' star attraction.

Rudisha has also been nominated for the IAAF Athlete of the Year Award alongside Jamaican multiple Olympic champion Usain Bolt and American 110m record holder Aries Merritt.

Ezekiel Kemboi, who was the only other gold medalist in London after winning the 3,000m steeplechase, also made the seven-man list for the top award. Kemboi is one of Kenya's most talented and consistent runners in the water and barrier event, which is considered the country's specialty.

Kenya's top swimmer Jason Dunford is the other favourite named for the title. Despite performing dismally at the Olympic Games, Dunford seems to have put his act together and continued to dominate the Fina/Arena swimming World Cup around the globe. He has so far won three gold, five silver and a bronze medal in the series.

Prior to the event, Dunford won three gold and two silver medals in the Africa Swimming Championships staged at Moi, Kasarani recently.

Paralympian Abraham Tarbei completes the men's list of top award. Tarbei is credited with having won a gold medal in the (T46) 1500m, where he also set a world record of 3:50:15. He also won bronze medal in the (T46) 800m, where he returned 1:56.

Recently Tarbei announced his interest in participating in events featuring able bodied athletes just like South-Africa's blade runner Oscar Pistorius.

Double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot and World Marathon Majors winner Mary Keitany are the only two female athletes gunning for the Sports Woman of the Year award. Vivian won silver in the 5,000m at the Olympic Games and settled for bronze in the 10,000m behind Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba and Sally Kipyego.

Leading integrated communications provider Safaricom Limited is sponsoring this year's awards for Kshs.7 million. The Sport Personality of the Year Awards which are in their 9th year are the country's most prestigious sports awards and they recognize excellence in all sporting disciplines.

About Safaricom

Sports Safaricom has had a longstanding tradition of sponsoring major sports events in the country. In 2008, the company offered cash incentives for the Olympics team and the Paralympics teams as motivation for a good performance. The telecoms company was the major sponsor of the 2010 African Athletics Championships, which were the first ever to take place in Kenya. Safaricom is also a major sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year Award-SOYA which honours excellence in athletics. The company is also associated with many local races both at the national and community level.

About SOYA

The Sports Personality of the Year Award was launched in 2004 by celebrated Kenyan athlete, Paul Tergat to celebrate and recognize star Kenyan sportsmen and women. The outstanding sports personality of the year is the one, who has not only brought fame to the motherland, but has also made many Kenyans proud in the course of the past year. The awards feature 15 distinct categories and the sports man and sports woman of the year categories.

PHARMACIST WINS MERCEDES IN SAFARICOM'S TIMIZA PROMOTION

Nairobi, November 2, 2012… Leading integrated communications service provider, Safaricom Limited, has today handed over a brand new Mercedes E-200 to Carol Adoga Mwanbihi, in the Timiza na M-PESA promotion grand draw.

Ms. Mwanbihi, who is a pharmacist working in Zimmerman Estate is a regular user of M-PESA who was totally floored by the phone call informing her of her good fortune. And as fate would have it, the 29 year old mother of one has earned the enviable distinction of having the luxurious vehicle as her first car. 

"For the many years that I have been using M-PESA, I never dreamt of being rewarded this way and I thank God for this amazing occurrence. This win will indeed change my fortunes," said Ms. Adoga.

The first born in a family of five added that she would eventually sell the vehicle and use funds raised from the transaction to start a business and support her family.

When handing over the keys to the luxury car this morning, Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said "In the last five years, M-PESA has grown from a money transfer service to a convenience lifestyle tool which now incorporates many other financial transactions. We have grand plans afoot to grow the brand even further as we continue to push our financial inclusion agenda."

Timiza na M-PESA competition was a four week promotion which kicked off on the 2nd October 2012 and ended on the 29th of October 2012. In total, the competition awarded over Ksh. 18 million to more than 600 customers with prizes ranging from Ksh 3,000-Ksh 25,000. The competition is part of the "Relax, you have got M-PESA" campaign which is anchored on the convenience that M-PESA offers customers. 

ENDS

About Safaricom-Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. 

Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 15 million customers and over 40,000 Agent outlets countrywide.