Kenya's relay battalion storms Gaborone in hunt of World Relays glory

National 400m record holder Mercy Oketch in a previous race/ HANDOUT

Kenya’s relay battalion is set to descend on Gaborone, Botswana, this weekend in pursuit of global acclaim at the World Relay Championships.

‎For the global showpiece, Kenya has entered five teams: the men’s 4x100m, men’s 4x400m and women’s 4x400m, alongside mixed relay squads in the 4x100m and 4x400m.

‎The men’s 4x100m team will be spearheaded by Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, who is joined by national 100m champion Meshack Babu, Samuel Chege and rising stars Dennis Mwai, Elkana Sabila and Moses Wasike

‎The squad has been steadily rewriting history since last season. In 2025, the team broke new ground by qualifying Kenya for the Tokyo World Championships for the first time.

‎However, in Tokyo, the baton squad narrowly missed out on a place in the final after finishing sixth in their heat in 38.56 seconds. ‎Kenya’s men’s 4x400m contingent will feature Danson Kibet, Eric Kimathi, Erastus Mbaluka, Dennis Mulongo, Kipkorir Rotich and Joshua Wanyonyi.

‎In the women’s ranks, national 100m hurdles champion Gladys Ngure will lead the charge alongside Lanoline Aoko, Purity Chepkoech, Anne Mbatha, Margaret Tajeu and Moureen Nanjala. ‎The nation’s hopes in the mixed 4x100m relay will rest on Millicent Ndoro, Eunice Kadogo, Lilian Aoko, Steve Odhiambo, Mark Otieno and Ronald Koech.

‎Meanwhile, the mixed 4x400m squad will parade Kevin Kipkorir, George Mutinda, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet, Hellen Syombua and national record holder Mercy Oketch.

‎Kenya will be eager to mount a far sterner challenge after a disappointing outing at the 2025 edition in Guangzhou, China, where the nation returned with just one medal.

‎That solitary podium finish came courtesy of the mixed 4x400m quartet of David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet, Brian Tinega and Mercy Oketch, who clocked a cumulative 3:13.10 to secure bronze.

‎The Kenyan quartet finished behind the United States, who stormed to a championship record of 3:09.54, while Australia claimed silver in 3:12.20. The team is scheduled to depart today (Wednesday) for Botswana. ‎Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei wished the squad success, while also issuing a stern warning over doping.

‎“Doping is an issue that has given us a lot of headaches now and then. ‎You find that an athlete is tested in the country before going to a competition, and they are clean. After being tested while at the competition, they are found to have doped, so where did they get the illegal substances from, because they left the country clean?” said Tuwei.

‎He reminded the athletes of Kenya’s rich legacy in global athletics, warning that the scourge of doping has tarnished the nation’s once-pristine reputation. “We have been leading globally, but now the menace of doping has tarnished our good name. Let us be careful about this.”