Kenya Prisons Championships: Odira, Keter to headline star-studded cast in Ulinzi

The 2021 World U20 men's 1500m champion Vincent Keter and reigning Absa Kip Keino Classic women's 800m champion Lilian Odira are among the star-studded cast that will headline the two-day 2025 Kenya Prisons Service Inter-Regional Athletics, Darts and Chess Championships set for Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Friday and Saturday.

Prisons will use their national athletics showdown in Ulinzi to select a formidable squad that will represent the force at the forthcoming Athletics Kenya (AK) National Championships set for Nairobi on June 26-28.

Ahead of the showpiece, KPS Deputy Commissioner General Admin, Nicholas Maswai welcomed various sponsorship boosts, both in cash and in kind, from the Magereza Sacco (Sh150,000), Kingdom Bank (Sh100,000), Sai Sports Limited (medals), Progressive, Nairobi West Hospital (free treatment of injuries), Nairobi South Hospital (ambulances and medics) and Gertrude Hospital (ambulances and medics).

"We are grateful to well-wishers who have come on board to support these championships, we don't take their kind gesture for granted. We pledge to select a solid line up that will be a great force to reckon with at the nationals," Maswai underlined.

Odira and Keter are optimistic about defending their titles in the looming Prison battle, and they are also aiming to attain their personal bests.

"I'm happy I got a PB in the Kip Keino Classic last weekend, and attaining the World Championships qualifying mark was the icing on the cake. I'll try to push even harder to improve on my PB this weekend in Ulinzi," Odira told Standard Sports.

"Currently, my body is fine, it is in great shape, no injuries, I feel very fresh and energised, so a new PB is just possible this weekend," stated Odira.

The African women's silver medalist explained that she did lots of endurance with the Cross Country races she took earlier in the year, which saw her make it to the podium in all the races. Her current focus, as she aims for the national championships and the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, is purely speed work.

Keter, who finished third in men's 1500m at last weekend's Kip Keino Classic, said he will double in men's 800m in the Prisons challenge.

"My body is already responding well in 1500m, so I'm also scaling down to 800m to get speed," Keter stated.

" I missed attaining the World Championships qualifying mark at the Rabat Diamond League and at this year's Kip Keino Classic, but it is still early in the season. I believe there is still plenty of time to punch that ticket," Keter highlighted.

The KPS Deputy Director of Sports, Catherine Ndereba, hailed Odira for bringing the roof down at the Kip Keino Classic last Saturday, terming Odira as the next big thing in Kenya's athletics scene.

"While our athletics contest will be held at Ulinzi, the Darts and Chess competitions will be conducted at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru," Ndereba explained.

Jane Kiiri, the KPS Deputy Commissioner General, Technical, thanked the sponsors who are walking the journey with Prisons this season, pledging that they will choose the best of the best at the weekend for the forthcoming national championships duel.