Night of Queens and Kings: SOYA 2025 Honors Kenya's Sporting Heroes in Stunning Fashion

Listen, fam. You haven’t really seen Kenyan athletes until you’ve seen them out of their kits and in a tux. Not a tracksuit. Not a training bib. I’m talking bow tie, cufflinks, polished shoes—and for the ladies? Gowns that would make Milan take notes. This year's SOYA Awards took place at KICC, and the experience was truly amazing.

The 2025 edition carried  the theme : “Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports.” And the night? A perfect tribute to the queens of Kenyan sport who’ve been breaking records and barriers in equal measure.

I showed up early (for once), and KICC was already buzzing. No mud, no medals—just ladies and gentlemen that have brought praise to our country. I almost didn’t recognize Emmanuel Wanyonyi without his race face—until he flashed that gangster-level greatness and the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

First shout goes to All Saints Embu, crowned School Team of the Year (Boys) for their rugby exploits. From Embu to the capital, they didn’t just show up—they showed out. The girls? Kesegon Girls Volleyball took the crown. 

Benson Mwenda bagged School Coach of the Year, and when he stepped up, the claps were thunderous.. You could hear the appreciation from his players and the people in the venue.

Junior Starlets, the darlings of women’s football, took home Team of the Year (Women), while the mighty Nairobi City Thunder dunked their way into Men’s Team of the Year. Respect where it’s due—these cats have been running the court like it’s their living room.

Mildred Cheche walked up to receive Coach of the Year like the boss she is. The woman’s been cooking up tactics that are taking Kenya’s U17 girls to new heights. Her presence alone could teach a masterclass.

Then came the moments that got the room misty-eyed. Michelle Chepngetich and Samson Ojuka, our Sports Personalities with Disability, stepped up and reminded us all what courage looks like in real time. Not a dry eye in the house.

Now, the big ones. Beatrice Chebet was sadly absent—off somewhere in China, doing what she does best: winning. But she sent a video, and trust me, even through the screen, the girl radiates star power. Her Sportswoman of the Year award was well-earned, well-loved, and deeply respected.

Then came Emmanuel Wanyonyi, sliding onto stage like a man with nothing left to prove and everything to celebrate. His acceptance speech? Short, sweet—and finished off with a little Luhya jig that brought the roof down. And because Kenyans love a good party, every winner joined him on stage in one big, joyous, slightly chaotic photobomb moment. Flashbulbs, hugs, ululations—you had to be there.

But the most moving tribute of the night? The induction of John "Bobby" Ogolla into the SOYA Hall of Fame. The man they call the “Six Million Dollar Man” for his legendary heroics with Gor Mahia and the Harambee Stars. A defender who played like a wall and mentored like a sage. His standing ovation lasted longer than a Gor Mahia post-match argument.

So here’s the deal, folks. SOYA 2025 wasn’t just another awards night. It was a love letter to our athletes. 

And me? I left KICC with two things—one, a deep appreciation for our sporting queens and kings. And two, a sore face from all the grinning.

Till the next red carpet, my people. Keep shining. Keep running. Keep dancing.