This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
On January 24, Mombasa County will host the 2019 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards, where Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga and World Marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge will face off in the Sportsman-of-the-Year category.
Olunga, who scored a brace at the Africa Cup of Nations in June last year, has been shortlisted alongside world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, Olympic and world champion Conseslus Kipruto, and World Half Marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor.
Olenga's impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he helped Kenya beat Tanzania 3-2, has earned him a spot among the nominees. At club level, Olenga scored 29 goals and provided nine assists in 33 appearances for Japanese team Kashiwa Reysol.
Geoffrey Kamworor, who won the men's race at the New York Marathon in November, hopes to outwit the other four nominees. In September, Kamworor took 17 seconds off the World Record at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, winning the race in 58:01.
The Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards have been sponsored by several organizations, including the County Government of Mombasa, Kenya Pipeline, Communications Authority, and UBA Bank.
