Kenya Shujaa and the Kenya Lionesses have received a timely lift in their Olympic journey after being awarded scholarships by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, a move set to sharpen their preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The boost signals renewed belief in Kenya’s sevens teams as they lay early foundations for a demanding Olympic cycle.
Speaking during the award, NOCK Secretary General John Ogolla struck a confident tone. “Congratulations on getting the scholarship. NOCK believes in you and this is an early build up ahead of the LA 2028,” he said.
Ogolla went on to underscore that the nation is watching with hope and expectation, noting that the goal goes beyond qualification to truly competing at the highest level. He added that NOCK has full faith in both teams and will stand with them throughout the journey, offering support in every possible way as preparations gather pace.
NOCK confirmed that the men’s and women’s national sevens teams have been awarded an IOC Scholarship worth USD 50,000. The funding will run from January through to 2028, providing sustained support across the entire Olympic cycle.
The scholarship comes at a crucial moment as Kenya begins its build up with the HSBC SVNS 2 set for the 14th&15th of February at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi,where both the Lionesses and Shujaa will compete as they begin their journey of qualifying for the HSBC world rugby series.
Team captains Samuel Asati and Sheila Chajira, alongside their respective technical teams, expressed gratitude to NOCK for the backing.
They reaffirmed their commitment to the task ahead, echoing a shared ambition that stretches beyond participation, with both Shujaa and the Lionesses daring to dream of delivering Kenya’s first ever team medal at the Olympic Games.
