Kennedy Tanui: Why Kenya's Glasgow Trials Matter Beyond Team Selection
The KSh10 million KCB-backed championships that doubled as Kenya's Commonwealth Games trials exposed both the strengths and challenges facing the country's athletics system, from distance-running dominance to the urgent need for investment in sprints and field events.
As the final races concluded under the clear evening skies of Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium, Athletics Kenya officials quickly shifted focus from selecting athletes to preparing a nation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
For three days, from June 18 to 20, the stadium hosted the Athletics Kenya National track and field championships, which also served as Kenya's trials for the Commonwealth Games scheduled for July 23 to August 2 this year in Scotland.
Backed by a KSh10 million sponsorship from Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), the championships culminated in the selection of a 52-member squad that has since been handed over to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) for further preparations.
Yet beyond the medal hopefuls and dramatic finishes, the trials revealed a broader story about a sport attempting to modernize while safeguarding Kenya's reputation as an athletics powerhouse.
For Kennedy Tanui, the World Athletics Competition Director, the event was as much about systems as it was about performances.
"We named a very strong Team Kenya," Tanui said after the trials. "We know that we are going to have the best of the best in the Commonwealth Games, and Kenya has selected the same."
Merit, Compliance and Transparency
Selection to major championships in Kenya has occasionally attracted controversy, but Athletics Kenya sought to minimize disputes through a straightforward process.
Athletes who won their events and met all anti-doping and accreditation requirements earned automatic qualification. Remaining slots were filled by a panel of selectors based on merit and available quotas.
Tanui says compliance was non-negotiable.
"You saw that we took the first one who crossed the finish line in the trials, having satisfied all the anti-doping conditions and also the conditions by the Commonwealth Organizing Committee," he said.
"It was one of the best selections because all those who had the best performances were given a chance."
The emphasis on anti-doping comes at a sensitive time for Kenyan athletics. While the country continues to dominate global distance running, recurring doping cases have placed the sport under intense international scrutiny.
For administrators, ensuring that selected athletes meet every requirement before departure has become as important as performance itself.
The Distance Running Question
The trials also highlighted a reality that has defined Kenyan athletics for decades.
The country's strength remains firmly rooted in middle and long-distance events.
From the 800 metres to the steeplechase, the quality and depth on display at Nyayo Stadium reinforced Kenya's status as one of the world's leading distance-running nations.
But the same could not be said for every discipline.
"If you see in our team, the majority are distance runners, which means distance runners have adequate environment to train," Tanui observed.
"But the sprinters are struggling to qualify. And also the field events are struggling to qualify."
His remarks point to a challenge Athletics Kenya has wrestled with for years.
Despite producing global stars such as Ferdinand Omanyala in the sprints, Kenya has yet to consistently replicate its distance-running success in sprint and field events. Limited facilities, specialized coaching and competition opportunities continue to hinder progress.
Why More Competitions Matter
One lesson Athletics Kenya appears to have taken from the trials is the value of regular high-level competition.
According to Tanui, athletes who competed in a strong domestic circuit before the championships arrived better prepared and produced stronger performances.
"All the championships that we have held before these Commonwealth Games have helped athletes to post the best times," he said.
"Therefore, it gives us a challenge to organize more qualifying games that are of world-class standard here."
The success of the trials strengthens the case for expanding Kenya's athletics calendar beyond a handful of major events.
For many athletes, particularly those without access to overseas competitions, local opportunities often determine whether they can achieve international standards.
Technology Takes Centre Stage
One of the most striking features of the championships was not an athlete but the technology supporting them.
The men's 800 metres final, decided by a photo finish, provided a vivid reminder of how modern athletics increasingly relies on precision.
Tanui believes Kenya is finally catching up.
"The video referee has almost the final decision on what happens in the field," he said.
"We have incorporated that technology in our events."
Athletics Kenya also deployed digital systems for handling protests and competition management, allowing disputes to be addressed quickly.
The result was a championships largely free of controversy.
"All disputes were resolved amicably," Tanui added.
"There is nobody saying they were unfairly treated."
Looking Beyond Glasgow
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Kenyan athletics came from outside the country's traditional development pathways.
Tanui highlighted the growing influence of Kenyan athletes studying and competing in the United States, where access to modern facilities and specialized coaching is helping bridge gaps in field events and sprints.
He pointed to Commonwealth Games triple jump qualifier Kevin as one example of the progress being made.
"But thank God there is a space that is being taken up by students who are in the U.S.," he said.
"We are happy that triple jump can qualify for such an international event."
The trend mirrors a broader shift within Kenyan athletics, where universities abroad are increasingly producing athletes capable of competing in disciplines once considered weak areas for the country.
Confidence Ahead of Scotland
For now, however, attention turns to Glasgow.
The team selected at Nyayo features established names and emerging talent, many of whom produced standout performances during the trials.
Tanui believes the signs are promising.
He points to the fiercely contested men's 800 metres, the emergence of new women's steeplechase talent and the continued presence of experienced campaigners such as Timothy Cheruiyot among the reasons for optimism.
"We want to tell Kenyans that the group of athletes that we have are world beaters," he said.
"Kenyans should watch this space carefully because we are coming with more medals than before."
Whether those medals materialize next summer remains to be seen.
But if the Nyayo trials offered any indication, Kenya's ambitions now stretch beyond simply winning races. The country is investing in better systems, stronger governance, improved technology and modern infrastructure — foundations that could shape the future of Kenyan athletics long after Glasgow 2026.