Farouk Kibet to Sponsor Two Young Kenyans for 2026 World Cross Country Championships

 

 President William Ruto’s aide and patron of the Chepsaita Cross Country Run, Sir Farouk Kibet, has announced that he will personally sponsor two young Kenyan athletes to attend the 2026 World Cross Country Championships scheduled for January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Speaking during preparations for the annual Chepsaita event, Kibet said the sponsorship will cover air travel and accommodation for one boy and one girl, giving them the opportunity to witness a global competition and draw inspiration from the world’s top runners.

"I will personally pay for their tickets and accommodation. I want them to go watch and learn. A boy and a girl, I'm going to sponsor them," Kibet said.

"I know being born in Chepsaita is not enough; it is also good to travel."

Kibet, a long-time supporter of athletics in the region, emphasized that exposure to world-class sporting environments can motivate young talents to pursue excellence. His pledge adds to ongoing community-level initiatives aimed at nurturing emerging runners in Uasin Gishu and the larger Rift Valley, a region renowned for producing world-beating athletes.

The 2026 Championships, set for Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park, are expected to draw elite cross-country athletes from across the globe. For the two selected youths, the trip will offer a rare chance to experience the event firsthand and broaden their horizons beyond local training grounds.