Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) President James Waindi has distributed training shoes to the National Paralympics team currently training at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The shoes were donated to SJAK by Japanese marathoner and philanthropist Chiaki Morikawa, who is supporting Kenya’s next generation of athletes through a partnership with the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya
Through her Tokyo-based organisation, Wayz Running, Morikawa is donating training and competition shoes to underprivileged Kenyan athletes. SJAK distributed the shoes on her behalf as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
Waindi said the association introduced its CSR programme last year and identified the national para athletes and powerlifters currently in residential camp as beneficiaries of the latest donation
“As SJAK, we introduced CSR activities last year, and this time round we chose to give these shoes to the para athletes and power lifters currently in camp preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The shoes are of good quality and meant for training and running. They will go a long way in helping the underprivileged athletes train well and achieve their goals,” said Waindi.
National Paralympics sprinter Neema Stency, who will compete in the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games, welcomed the donation, saying it would significantly improve her training.
“I am so happy for this donation because these shoes will make a big impact on my training, as they are of very good quality and meant for training,” she said.
The General Team Manager for the National Paralympics team, Bhaveet Chudasama, said the donation had boosted the athletes’ morale and would enhance their preparations for the Games.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Morikawa, the Chief Executive Officer of Wayz Running, founded the organisation to support women runners in Japan in areas including physiotherapy to help them realise their full potential. She continues to compete in the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres, half marathon and marathon.
The 38-year-old went into semi-retirement in 2018 after deciding to focus more on community service.
Her personal bests include 4:12.75 in the 1,500 metres, set in Osaka in 2016; 15:36.66 in the 5,000 metres, achieved in Yokohama in 2013; and a marathon best of 2:35:06 recorded at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon. She also posted 2:37:25 at this year’s Tokyo Marathon on March 1 and 1:22:37 at the Medio Marathon Internacional de Coban in Guatemala on May 31.
Morikawa has maintained a close connection with Kenya through friendships with several Kenyan athletes. Among them Rosemary Monica Wanjiru, one of the fastest women in marathon history with a personal best of 2:16:14. Wanjiru won the 2025 Berlin Marathon and the 2023 Tokyo Marathon.
“The reason why I started this donation project is that one of my teammates in Japan was training barefoot,” Morikawa said.
“Looking at that, I decided that I will help Kenyan children and athletes become better athletes. By having this type of shoes, I believe that everybody will have a bright future and bring them close to their dreams, and I am glad to be the supporter of that movement.”
By Anita Omwenga
