This archive report was first published on 24 December 2021.
January 19 marks the date for the Soya gala in Kakamega County, where the Sports Woman of the Year award will be given out. Female rally driver Maxime Wahome is among the nominees, having made a name for herself in her debut year as a rally driver.
Wahome's impressive performance in the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda, where she won the All Ladies crew trophy and finished sixth overall, has earned her a spot among the top contenders. She also won the Division Two category at the Ramisi Rally and ranked 14th overall at the East African Mini Classic.
However, Wahome faces stiff competition from Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepngetich, Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, Vihiga Queens and Harambee Starlets star player Jentrix Shikangwa, tennis player Angela Okutoyi, and volleyball star Sharon Chepchumba.
Peres Jepchirchir, the undisputed World Half Marathon champion, has been making waves in athletics with her impressive performances. She won the country's second women's Olympics marathon title at the Tokyo Summer Games, finishing in a time of 2:27.20.
Angela Okutoyi, a 17-year-old tennis prodigy, has also been making headlines with her impressive junior tennis career. She won the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour juniors grade four championships singles in January and February in Nairobi, as well as the doubles.
Okutoyi's impressive performance has earned her a spot among the top contenders for the Sports Woman of the Year award. She is currently ranked third in the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) and 155th in the world junior ranking.
