Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, President of Athletics Kenya, has spoken of his immense honour and pride after being elected as one of the four vice presidents of World Athletics.
Tuwei secured this significant position during the World Athletics Congress held in Budapest last week. Following his return to Kenya, he shared his feelings of delight and the significance of this achievement.
For Kenya, having one of its own as a vice president of World Athletics holds immense importance. Tuwei, who has now taken on a pivotal role in the global athletics landscape, emphasized the value of this achievement, especially considering his newness to the council.
In an interview upon landing in Kenya from Budapest, Tuwei stated, “For us here in Kenya to get a vice president of World Athletics for the first time, it was not an easy thing. The other three vice presidents who were elected were in the council before. I was the only one who had not been there. So for me to jump from a Federation to be a vice president of World Athletics is something I treasure.”
With his newfound position, Tuwei aspires to drive positive change in athletics, not just within Kenya but across Africa. He highlighted the importance of reimagining the approach to African Championships and embracing improvements.
Acknowledging the transformative changes within the field, he emphasized the need for collective efforts and effective teamwork.
Tuwei’s plans extend beyond this achievement. He aims to attract more international athletics events to Africa and, particularly, to Kenya. He reaffirmed the country’s aspiration to host a Diamond League meet in Nairobi, envisioning the continued growth of the sport on the continent.
Moreover, Tuwei revealed that although Kenya missed the opportunity to host the 2025 World Championships, the country is actively exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 edition.
This demonstrates Kenya’s determination to play a prominent role in shaping the global athletics calendar.
As Tuwei takes on his role as a World Athletics vice president, he envisions an era of collaboration, development, and progress for athletics in Kenya and beyond.
