Kenya's Paralympics Team head out to Tokyo

There has been neither hype nor pomp and colour associated with Team Kenya to the Paralympics Games set for 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Tokyo. 

A travelling contingent of 54 athletes and officials is headed out to the Japanese capital where Kenya will be participating in its 22nd competition since their initial participation in 1972 Paralympic Games.

On Thursday, the team was kitted by East Africa Breweries through their brand Tusker. Kenya will be represented in three disciplines, athletics, rowing and power lifting. 

The first batch of the contingent left the country on this Friday 13 August 2021 with the other athletes expected to leave between 21 and 24.

In the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Kenya bagged six medals (three gold, one silver and two bronze).

The team has been training at the Utalii Hotel bubble camp with the exception of para rower Asiya Mohammed who is based at Tudor water Sports in Mombasa. Hellen Wawira is Kenya's only power lifter who made the team.

“We applaud the Kenyan Paralympics team for their meticulous preparations through the qualifying stage and finally as they set out to Tokyo to represent us at the Paralympic Games. As Tusker we felt it was necessary for Kenya's Paralympians to don their national attire that speaks to the support they have back home. We hope this kit adds that extra bit of motivation as they travel to conquer the world as this year’s games,” Tusker Brand Manager Kennedy Mutula during the kit handover.

On her part, Kenya National Paralympics Committee (KNPC) president Agnes Oluoch said that the team was excited about the prospects of delivering medals at the upcoming games. 

“We are excited to travel to Tokyo, in our new kits, and we can already feel the full support of Kenyans even as we begin to travel for the games from Friday. We have prepared diligently despite several constraints in our current Covid 19 environment. We hope to fly the flag high as Kenya’s ambassadors at the Paralympics and we hope to pick up several medals at the games.” said Oluoch.