Race for prestigious SOYA awards on

This year’s Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) awards will take place on 23 February in Nairobi and the panel has, so far, released nominees for three categories.

The multi-discipline award ceremony culminates with the crowning of the athlete of the year, the top-most award in Kenya's sports.

Nominees to the team of the year for both men and women and sportswoman living with disability category have been revealed.

Rowing sensation Asiya Sururu is among five athletes battling for the Sportswoman Living with Disability category for her exploits last year that saw her break two records and book her ticket to this year's Paralympics.

She set a new world record in October, covering an impressive 11,243m in 60 minutes on the Concept2 Row ski bike ERG, and followed it up with another, covering 5,610m in just 30 minutes in the women's 30-39 PR1 category.

Both records have been verified by the World Rowing Federation.

She dominated the regatta qualifiers in Tunisia, where she won the PR1 women’s single sculls (12:44), a result that earned her a spot in the Paris Paralympics Games, making her the first Kenyan rower to qualify for two Paralympics games.

In addition, Sururu had also won an adaptive rowing event in Oxford City, the Royal Regatta, and the Rowing World Cup2 in Varese, Italy.

She goes up against national wheelchair tennis champion Jane Ndenga, Special Olympics gold medalist Purity Jepkirui Kandie, Para athletics marvel Nancy Chelangat, and Deaflympics star Ruth Chemurgor.

For the women’s team of the year African champions Malkia Strikers and the 3x3 national team that won the African title in December top the list.

National Roll Ball team; world champions, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), and Nairobi Water handball team are also in the running.

The roll ball team, against all odds, defended their World Cup title last year, beating Egypt 5-0 in the final in Pune, India. It was Kenya’s third global victory following wins in 2015 and 2019.

Malkia Strikers reclaimed the Women's African Nations Championship title after eight years. Their dominant exploits saw them qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in Paris.

On their part, the 3X3 team comprising of Madina Okot, Natalie Akinyi, Mercy Wanyama and Hilda Indasi made history by winning the Africa title in the shorter version of the game against favourites Egypt to stay on course for Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification.

As for KPA, in addition to successfully defending the national league title, they clinched the Zone Five club championship, thrashing home side Rwanda Energy Group 87-53 in a one-sided final.

The win meant that they represented Zone Five at the inaugural FIBA Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) where the Kenyan made history, reaching their first-ever continental semis and becoming the first Kenyan basketball side to reach the final of a continental competition, where they settled for silver following a 103-59 loss to Alexandria Sporting Club of Egypt.

Nairobi Water handball team carried on their winning ways in 2023 to win the national league title and the Super Cup as well.

The men's team of the year will see Roll Ball, Kakamega Homeboyz (Football), Shujaa (Rugby) Junior Stars (Football) and Kabras Sugar (Rugby).

Junior Stars finished as the runners-up in the CECAFA U-18 championship, following a hard-fought 2-1 loss to Uganda U-18 in the final hosted in Kisumu.

Kabras RFC, on their part land the nomination after retaining the prestigious Kenya Cup, defeating perennial rivals KCB RFC.

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Meanwhile, Kakamega Homeboyz closed out the year 2023 on a high, clinching the Mozzartbet Cup, edging out Tusker FC 1-0. The victory earned them silverware and the opportunity to represent Kenya at the CAF Confederation Cup.

Meanwhile, the Roll Ball team, made history by being crowned world champions, a feat achieved after beating hosts India 7-4.

Elsewhere, troubled Shujaa, defied odds by upsetting favorites South Africa with a thrilling 17-12 victory to book a place in this year’s Paris Olympics.