Speed After Sunset: Nairobi Hosts First Floodlit Absa Kip Keino Classic

_{By Erick Nzioka}

NAIROBI, Kenya– Kenya’s worldclass athletics meet returns to the Nyayo National Stadium with a historic floodlit spectacle as Absa Bank Kenya commits over KES 60 million to support the country’s athletics calendar.

Nairobi is preparing for something it has never seen before in athletics.On Friday, April 24, the Absa Kip Keino Classic 7th edition will transform Nyayo National Stadium into a spectacular arena of speed, energy, and celebration as Kenya’s premier track and field event runs under floodlights for the first time.

The event will start at noon, with national events setting the stage before the elite races build toward a dramatic evening finale under the stadium lights.

Sponsoring the historic edition is a strong commitment from Absa Bank Kenya, which has invested Kes. 60 million in the national athletics calendar, including Kes. 35 million dedicated to the Kip Keino Classic.

Part of the sponsorship covers Kes. 27 million in rights fees to Athletics Kenya, while the remaining funds will support marketing, fan engagement, and enhancing the overall experience around the event.

Speaking to SportsDesk.co.ke, Mwihaki Wachira, Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Absa Bank Kenya, said the partnership will go beyond the competition, empowering athletes off the track through financial literacy programs at training camps across the country for young athletes and their families.

The event officials believe that the shift to Friday evening will create a vibrant stadium atmosphere while bringing athletics closer to the public.

The evening schedule and free entry are aimed at encouraging more Kenyans to attend and support their athletes while aligning the event with global efforts to grow the sport and increase fan participation, said Jinaro Kibet, Vice President of Athletics Kenya.

With thousands expected to stream into the stadium after work and school hours, the floodlit setting promises a unique fan experience rarely seen at athletics events in Kenya.

On the track, Kenyan stars and international champions are set to dazzle. Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, will spearhead the sprints, with Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, world middle-distance champion Timothy Cheruiyot, and Kenyan javelin ace Julius Yego famously known as the YouTube Man also in action.

They will be joined by global stars, including Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, javelin gold medalist Thomas Röhler, hammer throw Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg, and Uganda’s world champion Halimah Nakaayi, promising thrilling action across all events.

Growing global interest in the event is cementing Kenya’s status as a top destination for international athletics, with athletes from around the world flocking to Nairobi each year, said Barnaba Korir, Meet Director of the Kip Keino Classic.

The 2026 edition will also feature Under 20 races for the first time, giving the young athletes a rare chance to compete in a world class environment. The youth programme will include the 100 metres, 3,000 metres flat, and 3,000 metres steeplechase, part of Athletics Kenya’s drive to nurture the next generation of talent, said Kennedy Tanui, Competition Director at Athletics Kenya.

Senior athletes will compete in the 10,000 metres, offering a rare platform for long-distance runners in an event that is vanishing from many international events but remains a stronghold for Kenyan athletes.

Environmental sustainability will also play a role in this year’s event.

Air-quality monitoring sensors will be installed at key venues as part of an initiative supported by the Stockholm Environment Institute, a global research organization that works on climate and environmental sustainability.

The monitoring technology will provide real time environmental data aimed at protecting athletes and spectators while promoting healthier sporting environments.

As dusk falls over Nairobi and the floodlights brighten Nyayo Stadium, the 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic will open a new chapter for Kenyan athletics. For the first time, thousands of fans will witness worldclass athletes competing under the lights in their own backyard a thrilling mix of elite sport, passionate supporters, and an atmosphere unlike anything Kenyan athletics has seen. And when the final race crosses the line on Friday night, Nairobi won’t just have hosted another meet it will have lit up the track for the world to see