This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
Exactly 365 days before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics kick off on July 24 to August 9, 2021, the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has appointed Waithaka Kioni, President of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) and NOCK Vice-President, as Kenya's Chef de Mission.
With this appointment, Kioni will carry a sense of duty to restore Kenya's sporting image, which was marred by a scandal during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The scandal led to a government probe, resulting in the arraignment of six individuals, including former Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario.
Kenya's performance in the 2016 Olympics was impressive, with the country clinching six gold medals, six silver medals, and one bronze medal, marking the most wins by an African team and the best Olympic performance in Kenya's history.
As Chef de Mission, Kioni will act as spokesperson for Team Kenya, mentor athletes, coaches, and staff, and create an environment conducive to optimal performance at the games. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will feature 33 sports with 339 medal events, attracting over 11,000 athletes and officials from 206 countries.
