The Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) Awards were held last night at the K.I.C.C with this year’s theme being ‘Passing on the baton to the next generation of athletes‘
The annual awards reward exceptional performance by the country’s sportsmen and women and is given by a panel of the country’s top sports journalists.
Last night, for the first time in the history of the awards, Paralympian Samuel Muchai scooped the Overall Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) 2017.
Muchai, who was also named Sportsman of the Year Living with a Disability, became the first athlete living with disability to win the biggest prize at the annual Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
Olympic and World 3000m champion Conseslus Kipruto was named the 2017 Male Sports Personality of the Year while Olympic silver medallist and World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri took home the Female Sports Personality of the Year.
It was also a big night for the Kenya women’s national rugby team, the Lionesses, who were crowned 2017 Women’s Sports Team of the Year. They shared a category with the women’s national volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, Telkom Kenya hockey team as well as the Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline volleyball teams.
Here’s the full list of yesterday’s winners.
SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Samuel Muchai (Paralympics, Athletics)
SPORTSMAN
1. Conseslus Kipruto (Athletics)
2. Elijah Manangoi (Athletics)
3. Geoffrey Kirui (Athletics)
SPORTS WOMAN
1. Hellen Obiri (Athletics)
2. Faith Chepngetich (Athletics)
3. Edith Kiplagat (Athletics)
SPORTSMAN LIVING WITH DISABILITY
Samuel Muchai (Paralympics, Athletics)
SPORTS WOMAN LIVING WITH DISABILITY
Beryl Wamira (Deaflympics, athletics)
SPORTS TEAM (MEN)
National under 19 Cricket team
SPORTS TEAM (WOMEN)
National Rugby team (Kenya Lionesses)
MOST PROMISING (BOYS)
Aman Gandhi (Cricket)
MOST PROMISING (GIRLS)
Jacqueline Wambui (Athletics)
FEDERATION OF THE YEAR
ATHLETICS KENYA
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jimmy Kamande (Cricket)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER (BOYS)
Emmanuel Ndonga (Swimming)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER (GIRL)
Faith Nyabera (Tennis)
SCHOOL COACH
Kikechi Kombo (Muhuri Muchiri)
SCHOOL TEAM (Boys)
1. Muhuri Muchiri (Rugby 7s)
2. Laiser Hill (Rugby 15s)
3. Kisumu Day (Hockey)
SCHOOL TEAM (GIRLS)
Wiyeta Girls Secondary School
HALL OF FAME
Stephen Muchoki (Boxing)
Allan Thigo (Football)
COMMUNITY HERO
Rosemary Aluoch “Kadwaro” (Football)
