The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has presented the Kenya Women’s National Hockey Team, the Blades, an IOC Scholarship worth USD 50,000 (Sh6.4M), marking a major boost to the team’s high-performance preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Issued under the Olympic Solidarity ‘LA 2028 Scholarship’ Programme, the scholarship is designed to support athletes with strong potential to qualify for the 2028 Olympics.
The scholarship will run from January next year through to 2028, supporting the team consistently throughout the entire Olympic cycle. With their ranking as second in Africa, the Kenya Women’s Hockey Team is now positioned as one of the nation’s strongest prospects.
As part of its broader LA 2028 qualification strategy, NOC-K announced that in the coming weeks, three additional team sports will also be awarded this IOC scholarship as part of its effort to expand Kenya’s Olympic footprint and deepen the country’s talent pathway.
Speaking Wednesday at City Park Stadium Nairobi, NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki said that this support is directed toward high-performance preparation, structured training programmes, international exposure, and coaching and athlete support systems.
“This approval follows favourable feedback from the International Federation, an affirmation that Kenyan women’s hockey is firmly on the global competitive map,” he said, adding that this is not just funding; it is an international confidence in the future of the team.
The NOC-K President said that the journey to LA 2028 is anchored on strong talent identification and athlete pipeline development, consistent international competition exposure, coaching education and sports science integration, athlete welfare and safeguarding, integrity in sport, and the promotion of gender equity and women’s participation in sport.
Maluki said this investment comes at a very critical moment as NOC-Kenya implements its Strategic Roadmap to Los Angeles 2028.
He said this strategic focus supports NOC-K’s ambition to increase Kenya’s delegation from 85 athletes in Paris 2024 to over 100 athletes in LA 2028, including at least two qualified team sports.
The NOC-K President added that this elite support framework confirms that women’s team sports are not an afterthought; they are a core pillar of Kenya’s Olympic future.
He divulged that they shall maintain all sports that competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games noting that they shall add at least three new sports to Team Kenya for LA 2028 from those that participated in Paris.
“We are targeting a minimum of 100 athletes for Team Kenya at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.” He said, adding that they are building from the foundation laid at Paris 2024, the NOC-Kenya Board has set bold, clear, and measurable national targets to guide our journey to Los Angeles 2028.
Maluki divulged that they are targeting at least three team sports at the LA 2028 Olympics because team sports build national belief, visibility, and inspiration and women’s hockey is central to this ambition.
He further said their ultimate performance target is at least ten gold medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. These are bold targets, but they represent a new era of professionalism, accountability, and global competitiveness for Kenyan sport.
“With this support, you now carry not only your personal dreams but also the Olympic aspirations of a nation. With this opportunity comes responsibility,” he exhorted the team.
He stressed that they expect discipline in training, commitment to clean sport, respect for safeguarding and athlete welfare standards, and the consistent upholding of the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship.
“The Road to Los Angeles 2028 begins now, not in 2027, not in 2028. Every training session, every camp, and every international match from this moment forward counts,” he said.
He added that they will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the athletes thrive in an environment of safety, fairness, and professionalism because no medal is greater than the life, dignity, and future of an athlete.
“As NOC-Kenya, we reaffirm today that athlete well-being is non-negotiable. Safeguarding is mandatory. Anti-doping compliance is compulsory. And the prevention of competition manipulation is a collective duty,” he said.
He thanked Olympic Solidarity for this invaluable support, the International Hockey Federation for their technical confidence, and the Kenya Hockey Union for its leadership and commitment to developing the game.
Maluki further acknowledged and appreciated the coaches, technical officials, parents, and partners who walk this journey daily with the athletes.
“Your achievement aligns with women’s empowerment, youth development, and Olympic excellence. Your support does not only build champions; it builds the nation,” he said.
Other officials present were IOC Member Paul Tergat, Secretary General John Ogola, Deputy Treasurer Charles Mose, Women Representative Doreen Okiri and officials of the Kenya Hockey Union board led by Colonel (Rtd) Nashon Randiek.
By Anita Omwenga
