Ryan Ogam, Abud Omar among heroes set to be honoured on Mashujaa Day
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Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 20.10.25. | 10:46
The honours extend far beyond football, cutting across; athletics, martial arts, motorsport, mountaineering, and para sports, showcasing Kenya’s diversity in sporting talent
Part of the Harambee Stars team that made history during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) are set to be feted in this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The celebrations will be held on Monday at Ithookwe Stadium, Kitui.
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President William Ruto is expected to lead the nation in honouring Kenya’s gallant men and women, who have made remarkable contributions across various sectors, with sports taking centre stage
Stars captain, during the tournament that was co-hosted by; Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Abud Omar, will be recognised for his exemplary leadership that saw Kenya reach the quarterfinals of the showpiece.
Wesley Ogam Rabok, who scored two crucial goals and emerged top scorer, will also receive presidential recognition.
Goalkeeper Bryne Omondi, whose spectacular saves earned him Man of the Match honours, is also among the heroes, as is midfielder Alpha Onyango, celebrated for his influential displays on the pitch.
Completing the football honours list is Nicodemus Kimanthi Musau, the Harambee Stars Team Manager and Data Analyst, who played a key role in integrating technology and sports science to bolster the team’s performance.
The honours extend far beyond football, cutting across; athletics, martial arts, motorsport, mountaineering, and para sports, showcasing Kenya’s diversity in sporting talent.
Kennedy Omwange Ndemo will be recognized for his lifelong contribution to athletics and mentorship through Alidais Group Kenya, which has supported talented youth to access sports scholarships both locally and abroad.
Martial artist Clarence Mwakio Ingalwa earns recognition for expanding Tong-IL Moo-Do in Kenya and founding the Mombasa Open International Martial Arts Championship, a global event that promotes sports tourism and intercultural exchange.
Similarly, Mourice Omondi Oloo will be honoured for pioneering the East Africa Gojukai Karate Championship and promoting discipline, fitness, and anti-drug awareness through karate.
In rugby, veteran Vincent Ongera Onsomu, who represented Kenya Simbas from 2003 to 2013, will be honoured for his impact both on and off the field, including his role in reviving Strathmore Leos and inspiring generations of players.
Football administrator Nicholas Musonye, a longtime CECAFA Secretary General, will also be feted for steering soccer development across East and Central Africa and supporting Kenya’s preparations to host the 2024 CHAN and 2027 AFCON tournaments.
Several women will also be celebrated for breaking barriers and uplifting others in their respective fields.
Mildred Omari (Cheche) will be honoured for leading the Kenya U17 Starlets to their first-ever FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualification in 2024.
Motorsport icons Pauline Sheghu and Linet Ayuko Osiako will receive recognition for being part of the first all-women WRC Safari Rally crew, achieving three consecutive podium finishes between 2023 and 2025, and inspiring more women into motorsport.
In netball, Parin Simiyu, the national team captain, will be celebrated for guiding Kenya to top finishes at the African Championships and boosting the country’s global rankings.
Young track stars; Clinton Aluvi Omatinya, Cynthia Chepkirui, and Nancy Chepng’etich Makani, will also be feted for their gold-medal-winning performances at the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18 and U20 Championships in Nigeria.
Kenya’s inclusivity in sport will shine through as Sharon Bitok Jeptarus and Lucas Wandia Wanjiru, both Deaflympics medalists, receive national recognition.
Bitok won silver in the 800m and 1500m in Brazil (2022), while Wandia claimed double gold in the 3000m steeplechase in Turkey (2017) and Brazil (2022).
Also recognized is Anne Lichina, a sign language interpreter whose work has enhanced the participation and inclusion of deaf athletes in competitive sports.
Para-athlete Jairus Ongeta, who won gold medals in the 100m and 400m at the 2025 Dubai Grand Prix, alongside podium finishes in powerlifting, will be honoured for his resilience and excellence.
Kennedy Ogada and his guide Fabian Kungu Gathoni will receive honours for their accomplishments in paracycling, representing Kenya with distinction at home and abroad.
Taekwondo champion Faith Ogallo, gold medalist at the 2025 African Open Series Zone Five Championship, will also feature among the decorated names.
Other honourees include mountaineer James Ngarariga Kagambi, the first Kenyan to summit Mount Everest in 2022, and Morris Okolla Alfayo, a heavyweight boxer who boasts 13 technical knockouts in 17 bouts, including a major victory at the “Clash of the Giants” event in Nairobi last year.
In volleyball, Abraham Mutala Mukulu will be celebrated for years of coaching and officiating that have helped nurture Kenya’s volleyball talent.
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Sports journalist Shadrack Andenga Odinga will be honoured for using the media to amplify athlete stories and expose corruption in sports, leading to improved governance and athlete welfare.
Catherine Mutwa Makau, a certified Judo and Martial Arts coach, will also be recognized for empowering young athletes through her Jenga Athletic Club in Mwingi West.
