Leading telecommunication company Safaricom has announced a Sh1 million sponsorship towards the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) which will be slated for April 16 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

This year’s awards will be especially exciting after Kenya topped Africa’s medals table at the 2024 Paris Olympics with four gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The award themed ‘Celebrating women’s excellence in sports’ and will see several sports personalities rewarded in 11 categories including Sports Woman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman with a Disability, a Sportsman with Disability, Coach of the Year, Sports Team Women, Sports Team Men, Schools Girls Team, Schools Boys Team, Schools Coach of the Year and Hall of Fame Award.

“At Safaricom we believe in the power of sport to uplift communities, transform lives, and spark national pride. We have walked this journey with Soya from its inception 21 years ago, contributing over Sh300 million in both cash and kind. For us, supporting Soya is our way of honouring the resilience, excellence, and determination of Kenyan athletes who continue to raise our flag on the global stage,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.

On his part, Paul Tergat, president National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) and founder of Soya, said: “The unwavering support from Safaricom over the last two decades has been instrumental in shaping SOYA into the prestigious platform it is today. Since 2004, we have celebrated the triumphs of our sportsmen and women together, ensuring that their efforts do not go unnoticed.

This year, as we shine a spotlight on women’s excellence in sports, we are proud to do so with a partner who shares our vision.”

Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon and her ‘double’ counterpart, Beatrice Chebet, will face off for this year’s Sportsperson of the Year Awards (Soya).