# Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year

Kenyan Sport Personality of the Year Awards, also known as SOYA Awards, are annual national awards given for sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the next year (e.g. 2008 awards took place in January 2009).

## Awards winners

    See footnote

### 2004

* Sportsman of the year: Henry Wanyoike (athletics)
* Sportswoman of the year: Catherine Ndereba (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (men): Kenya national rugby sevens team
* Sports team of the year (women): National volleyball team
* Most Promising sportsman: Brimin Kipruto (athletics)
* Hall of Fame inductee: Kipchoge Keino (athletics)

### 2005

* Sportsman of the year: Benjamin Limo (athletics)
* Sportswoman of the year: Catherine Ndereba (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (men): Kenya Chiba Ekiden relay team (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (women): National volleyball team
* Most Promising sportsman: Samuel Wanjiru (athletics)
* Most Promising sportswoman: Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru (athletics)
* Hall of Fame inductee: Joe Kadenge (football)
* Sports Federation: Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (general)
* Special Category: Edwin Kipchumba (athletics, paralympic)

### 2006

* Sportsman of the year: Alex Kipchirchir (athletics)
* Sportswoman of the year: Janeth Jepkosgei (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (men): Junior World Cross Country team (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (women): Kenya Commercial Bank (volleyball)
* Most Promising sportsman: David Dunford (swimming)
* Most Promising sportswoman: Pauline Korikwiang (athletics)
* Hall of Fame inductee: Hardial Singh (field hockey)
* Sports Federation: Athletics Kenya
* Special Category: Francis Thuo (athletics, paralympic)

### 2007

* Sportsman of the year: Jason Dunford (swimming)
* Sportswoman of the year: Janeth Jepkosgei (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (men): Kenya national rugby sevens team
* Sports team of the year (women): Junior World Cross Country team (athletics)
* Most Promising sportsman: Asbel Kiprop (athletics)
* Most Promising sportswoman: Ruth Bosibori (athletics)
* Hall of Fame inductee: Paul Wekesa (tennis)
* Sports Federation: Kenya Motorsports Foundation
* Special Category (men): Abraham Tarbei (athletics, paralympic)
* Special Category (women): Betty Cheruiyot (athletics, paralympic)
* Community Hero: Tegla Loroupe (athletics, paralympic)

### 2008

* Sportsman of the year: Samuel Wanjiru (athletics)
* Sportswoman of the year: Pamela Jelimo (athletics)
* Sports team of the year (men): Kenya national rugby sevens team
* Sports team of the year (women): Kenya Prisons (volleyball)
* Most Promising sportsman: Josephat Bett (athletics)
* Most Promising sportswoman: Achieng Ajulu-Bushell (swimming)
* Hall of Fame inductee: Jonathan Niva (football)
* Sports Federation: Kenya Rugby Football Union
* Special Category (men): Henry Kiprono Kirwa (athletics, paralympic)
* Special Category (women): Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo (athletics, paralympic)
* Community Hero: Juma Abdalla Kent (basketball)
* Coach of the Year: Julius Kirwa (athletics)

### 2009

| Category | Winner | Sport |
| Sportsman of the year | Collins Injera | Rugby union |
| Sportswoman of the year | Linet Masai | Athletics |
| Sports team of the year (men) | Kenya national rugby sevens team | Rugby union |
| Sports team of the year (women) | World Cross Country Championships team | Athletics |
| Most Promising sportsman | George Odhiambo | Football |
| Most Promising sportswoman | Mercy Cherono | Athletics |
| Hall of Fame inductee | Doris Wefwafwa | Volleyball |
| Sports Federation | Athletics Kenya | Athletics |
| Special Category (men) | David Kiptum | Paralympic athletics |
| Special Category (women) | Mary Nakhumicha | Paralympic athletics |
| Community Hero | Veronicah Osogo | Tennis |
| Coach of the Year | Benjamin Ayimba | Rugby union |
| Schools category (boys) | Laiser Hill Academy | |
| Schools category (girls) | Shimba Hills Secondary School | |

### 2010

| Category | Winner | Sport |
| Sportsman of the year | David Rudisha | Athletics |
| Sportswoman of the year | Nancy Lagat | Athletics |
| Sports team of the year (men) | Ulinzi Stars | Football |
| Sports team of the year (women) | Kenya Prisons | Volleyball |
| Most Promising sportsman | Caleb Mwangangi | Athletics |
| Most Promising sportswoman | Mercy Cherono | Athletics |
| Hall of Fame inductee | Wilson Kiprugut | Athletics |
| Sports Federation | Athletics Kenya | Athletics |
| Special Category (men) | Collins Wandera | Paralympic athletics |
| Special Category (women) | Mary Nakhumicha | Paralympic athletics |
| Community Hero | Brother Colm O'Connell | Athletics |
| Coach of the Year | Zedekiah Otieno | Football |
| Schools category (boys) | Kerugoya | |
| Schools category (girls) | Malava | |

### 2019

| Category | Winner | Sport |
| Sportsman of the year | Eliud Kipchoge | Athletics |
| Sportswoman of the year | Hellen Obiri | Athletics |
| Sports team of the year (men) | KCB | Rugby |
| Sports team of the year (women) | Malaika Strikers | Volleyball |
| Most Promising sportsman | Geoffrey Okwach | Rugby |
| Most Promising sportswoman | Jentrix Shikangwa | Football |
| Sports Federation | Kenya Special Olympics | |
| Special Category (men) | Samwel Mushai Kimani | Athletics |
| Special Category (women) | Catherine Nyaga | ?? |
| Community Hero | Johanna Omolo | Football |
| Coach of the Year | Paul Bitok | Athletics |
| Most Outstanding Player (boys) | Stephen Ndegwa | Swimming |
| Most Outstanding Player (girls) | Maria Biranchi | Swimming |
| Schools category (boys) | Kakamega High School | Rugby |
| Schools category (girls) | Kwanthanze Secondary School | Volleyball |
| School Coach | Justin Kigwari – Kwanthanze Secondary School | Volleyball |

## Individual winners

| Year | Sportsman of the Year | Sportsman of the Year | Sportswoman of the Year | Sportswoman of the Year | Ref. |
| Year | Winner | Sport | Winner | Sport | Ref. |
| 2004 | Henry Wanyoike | Athletics | Catherine Ndereba | Athletics | |
| 2005 | Benjamin Limo | Athletics | Catherine Ndereba (2) | Athletics | |
| 2006 | Alex Kipchirchir | Athletics | Janeth Jepkosgei | Athletics | |
| 2007 | Jason Dunford | Swimming | Janeth Jepkosgei (2) | Athletics | |
| 2008 | Samuel Wanjiru | Athletics | Pamela Jelimo | Athletics | |
| 2009 | Collins Injera | Rugby union | Linet Masai | Athletics | |
| 2010 | David Rudisha | Athletics | Nancy Lagat | Athletics | |
| 2011 | Patrick Makau | Athletics | Vivian Cheruiyot | Athletics | |
| 2012 | David Rudisha (2) | Athletics | Mary Keitany | Athletics | |
| 2013 | Ezekiel Kemboi | Athletics | Edna Kiplagat | Athletics | |
| 2014 | Caleb Ndiku | Athletics | Eunice Sum | Athletics | |
| 2015 | Julius Yego | Athletics | Hyvin Kiyeng | Athletics | |
| 2019 | Eliud Kipchoge | Athletics | Hellen Obiri | Athletics | |
| 2021 | Ferdinand Omanyala | Athletics | Faith Kipyegon | Athletics | |
| 2022 | Eliud Kipchoge | Athletics | Faith Kipyegon | Athletics | |