2008 in Kenya
Encyclopedia
January
- January 1 - Riots in Kenya escalated following the tension after disputed presidential electionsKenyan presidential election, 2007A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
. On January 1, 2008 a mob attacked and set fire to a church in the town of EldoretEldoretEldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
, where hundreds of people had taken refuge. As a result, at least 30 people, mostly Kikuyus, were burned to death. - January 24 - President Mwai KibakiMwai KibakiMwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
and his rival Raila OdingaRaila OdingaRaila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
met for the first time since the elections. Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanKofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, former United Nations Secretary-GeneralUnited Nations Secretary-GeneralThe Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
was also present .
February
- February 1 - Government and ODM representatives issue a public statement witnessed by Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanKofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
on the Goal of National Dialogue and Reconciliation
June
- June 10 - Four people, including politicians Kipkalya KonesKipkalya KonesKipkalya Kiprono Kones – 10 June 2008) was a Kenyan politician who served as a minister during the 1990s and was briefly Minister of Roads in 2008. He was a member of the National Assembly of Kenya from 1988 to 2008....
and Lorna LabosoLorna LabosoLorna Chepkemoi Laboso was a Kenyan politician of the Orange Democratic Movement . She was briefly a Member of Parliament and Assistant Minister in 2008....
were killed in an aviation accident. They were on board of a Cessna 210Cessna 210The Cessna 210 Centurion is a six-seat, high-performance, retractable-gear single-engine general aviation aircraft which was first flown in January 1957 and produced by Cessna until 1985.-Design and development:...
plane that crashed, without survivors . - June 11 - The first parliamentary by-elections in Kenya after the chaotic 2007 general elections were held. Out of five seats constested, ODM won three and PNU two. However, ODM lost the Embakasi ConstituencyEmbakasi ConstituencyEmkakasi Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of eight constituencies of Nairobi Province. It consists of eastern and southeastern suburbs of Nairobi. With 164,227 registered voters, it is the most populous constituency in Kenya. Embakasi constituency has common boundaries...
seat to PNU .
July
- July 8 - Amos KimunyaAmos KimunyaAmos Muhinga Kimunya is a Kenyan politician and a Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency, currently serving as Minister of Trade. He was Minister of Finance from 2006 to July 2008, when he resigned due to the Grand Regency Hotel scandal...
resigns from his post of Minister of Finance due the Grand Regency ScandalGrand Regency ScandalErupting in June 2008, the Grand Regency Scandal concerns the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel in Downtown Nairobi, Kenya, from the Central Bank of Kenya to an unspecified group of Libyan investors called "Libya Arab African Investment Company"...
. - July 15 - Prime minister Raila Odinga issued an order for "illegal" settlers of Mau ForestMau ForestMau Forest is a forest complex in the Rift Valley of Kenya. It is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa. The Mau Forest complex has an area of ....
to be evicted . - July 31 - Cattle raidersCattle raiding in KenyaThe northern Kenya and eastern Uganda regions are very insecure areas. For years now, there has been a number of cattle raids going on, terrorising the civilian population and killing hundreds of people. In eastern Uganda, in the Karamoja region, there are nomadic cattle herders called the Karamojong...
shot around 30 herdsmen at Suguta ValleySuguta ValleySuguta, also known as the Suguta Mud Flats, is an arid part of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya , directly south of Lake Turkana. The valley is floored by a seasonal stream complex, the Suguta River, that terminates in the seasonal playa lake Lake Alablab...
. The herdsmen were chasing raiders, who had earlier stolen their cattle, but the herdsmen ran out of ammunition .
August
- August 11 - The results of Kamukunji ConstituencyKamukunji ConstituencyKamukunji Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of eight constituencies of Nairobi Province. It consists of central to eastern areas of Nairobi. Kamukunji constituency has common boundaries with Pumwani Division of Nairobi. The entire constituency is located within Nairobi...
of the 2007 parliamentary elections were not tallied until now due to a court case. Simon Mbugua of PNU was declared the winner .
- August 13 - a Fokker F27-500Fokker F27The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
cargo aircraft operated by Fly540Fly540Fly540 is a low-cost airline based in Nairobi, Kenya. It operates domestic and international passenger and freight services.- History :...
. crashed about 20 km (12 mi) from the Namber Konton airport near MogadishuMogadishuMogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. All three crew members died. The aircraft was carrying a shipment of miraa (khatKhatKhat, qat, gat or Waquish Spoken from true Yemeni, is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
). The plane had departed from Wilson Airport in Nairobi .
September
- September 25 - By-elections were held in BometBomet ConstituencyBomet Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Bomet District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
and SotikSotik ConstituencySotik Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is located partly in Bomet District and partly in Buret District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
constituencies and were won by Beatrice Kones and Joyce Laboso respectively. Both represent ODMOrange Democratic MovementOrange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
, as did their predecessors, who died in an aviation accident in June . - September 25 - MV FainaMV FainaThe MV Faina is a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship operated by a Ukrainian company that sails under a Belize flag of convenience.The Faina is owned by Waterlux AG, based in Panama City, and managed by Tomex Team in Odessa, Ukraine....
, an UkrainianUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
ship was seized by Somali piratesPiracy in SomaliaPiracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
off the SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
n coast. The ship was carrying 33 Russian T-72T-72The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
tanks destined to Kenya .
October
- October 15 - The post-election violence report by Waki CommissionWaki CommissionThe Waki Commission, officially The Commission of Inquiry on Post Election Violence , was an international commission of inquiry established by the Government of Kenya in February 2008 to investigate the clashes in Kenya following the disputed Kenyan presidential election of 2007.- Background : The...
was released .
November
- November 1 - An NakumattNakumattNakumatt is a Kenyan supermarket chain. Nakumatt is an abbreviation for Nakuru Mattresses.-Overview:, it has twenty-seven stores across Kenya and employs over 4,000 people...
Supermarket and other fully operational properties were demolished in Nairobi to pave way for the expansion of Thika Road . - November 5 - The Kenya people celebrated the election of Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as president of the United states. The following day November 6 is declared a public holiday in Kenya. His father, Barack Obama, Sr.Barack Obama, Sr.Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. was a Kenyan senior governmental economist and the father of U.S. President Barack Obama. He is a central subject in his son's memoir, Dreams from My Father.-Early life:...
was raised and buried in Nyang'oma Kogelo village in western Kenya.
December
- December 11 - Kenyan parliament passes the Kenya Communications (Amendment) ActKenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008The Kenya Communications Act, 2008 is a Kenyan Act of Parliament that was passed by the 10th Kenyan Parliament and signed into law by President Mwai Kibaki on January 2, 2009. It is a controversial amendment of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998 which gives the state power to raid media houses and...
regulating media in Kenya. Critics say the bill meant to suppress the freedom of press, while the Kenyan government denies it . - December 19 - Joel Onyancha of Ford-People lost the Bomachoge ConstituencyBomachoge ConstituencyBomachoge is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Gucha District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
parliamentary seat after the 2007 results were nullified due to irregularities - December 24 - President Kibaki signs a bill disbanding the Electoral Commission of KenyaElectoral Commission of KenyaElectoral Commission of Kenya refers to the now defunct commission that was disbanded by the 10th Parliament in 2008 and replaced with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya. Samuel Kivuitu the last Chairman of the Commission and the commissioners at the time of disbanding, in...
. It will be replaced by Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) . - December 31 - Over 120 political parties, four with a parliamentary representation, failed to meet the deadline for complying with the new Political Parties Act and face deregisteration .
January
- January 1 - Lucas SangLucas SangLucas Sang was a Kenyan athlete who participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics, held in Seoul. He was a member of the Kenyan 4 x 400 metre relay team, reaching the final and finishing eighth...
, former olympic athlete, "hacked to death" in Chepkoilel, EldoretEldoretEldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
. - January 2 - G. G. Njuguna NgengiG. G. Njuguna NgengiG. G. Njuguna Ngengi was a Kenyan politician native to Molo, Kenya.He came into international attention in 1993 when he and an assistant, Mr. Koigi wa Wamwere, were charged with violent robbery after they allegedly stormed the Bahati Police Station...
, Politician, hacked to death in Kuresoi, near MoloMolo, KenyaMolo is a town in western Kenya. It is served by a branch of Kenya Railways, formerly the Uganda Railway, East African Railways Corporation until 1977. Molo hosts a town council and an administrative division in the Nakuru District of Rift Valley Province...
on January 2 - January 20 - Wesley Ngetich KimutaiWesley Ngetich KimutaiWesley Ngetich Kimutai was a Kenyan marathon runner.He was born in 1977 in Kiribwet, Kirindoni division, Trans Mara District. He went to Olpopongi Primary School, but did not go to high school, since his parents could not afford to pay his school fees. He did not compete outside Kenya until 2003...
, 34, marathoner, died after he was shot with an arrow on January 19 in the Trans Mara DistrictTrans Mara DistrictTrans Mara District is an administrative district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kilgoris. The district has a population of 170,591 and an area of 2,846 km²...
. - January 20 - Donald OdangaDonald OdangaDonald Odanga was a former Kenyan Basketball International.Odanga played for the Kenya national basketball team, Kenya Railways and defunct Premiership side Post Bank. Odanga played for Railways from early 1980s before moving to defunct premier league side Post Bank in 1990...
, former basketball international was hit by a stray bullet shot by the police . - January 29 - Mugabe WereMugabe WereMellitus Mugabe Were was a Kenyan politician affiliated to the Orange Democratic Movement . He was elected to the National Assembly of Kenya to represent Embakasi Constituency in the parliamentary election held on December 27, 2007...
, recently elected ODM MP was shot dead in Nairobi . - January 29 - David Kimutai TooDavid Kimutai TooDavid Kimutai Too was a Kenyan politician affiliated to the Orange Democratic Movement . He was a high school teacher and then a headmaster from Kericho in central Kenya before being elected to the National Assembly from Ainamoi Constituency from a field of 13 candidates in the December 2007...
, recently elected ODM MP was shot dead by a policeman in Eldoret .
February
- February 8 - Stephen Arusei Kipkorir, 37, Kenyan long-distance runner was killed in a car crash.
April
- April 4 - Samuel Ndindiri, 59, the National Assembly clerk dies of illness .
- April 10 - Jeremiah NyagahJeremiah NyagahThe most Honorable Doctor Jeremiah J.M. Nyagah E.G.H. was elected a member of the pre-independence Legislative Council to represent the present-day Embu, Mbeere, Kirinyaga and Nyeri districts in 1958...
, 87, former minister, dies of illness
May
- May 3 - Ngugi wa MiriiNgugi wa MiriiNgugi wa Mirii was a Kenyan playwright. He was known for his play, I Will Marry When I Want, which he co-authored with fellow Gikuyu writer Ngugi wa Thiongo....
, 57, playwright, dies in car accident in HarareHarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. - May 16 - Zachary Gakunju, born 1932, former MP, assistant minister and businessman .
- May 16 - Wycliffe Matwakei Komol, 37, the leader of Sabaot Land Defence ForceSabaot Land Defence ForceThe Sabaot Land Defence Force is a guerrilla militia operating in the Mount Elgon District of Kenya since 2005. It has been accused of killing more than 600 people, and of committing a variety of atrocities including murder, torture, rape, and the theft and destruction of property. More than...
was shot dead by Kenyan Army .
June
- June 6 - Omondi Tony (Anthony Omondi Mumbo), musician, founder member of Orchestra Limpopo International
- June 10 - Politicians Kipkalya KonesKipkalya KonesKipkalya Kiprono Kones – 10 June 2008) was a Kenyan politician who served as a minister during the 1990s and was briefly Minister of Roads in 2008. He was a member of the National Assembly of Kenya from 1988 to 2008....
and Lorna LabosoLorna LabosoLorna Chepkemoi Laboso was a Kenyan politician of the Orange Democratic Movement . She was briefly a Member of Parliament and Assistant Minister in 2008....
were killed in an aviation accident .
July
- July 12 - Reinhard FabischReinhard FabischReinhard Fabisch was a German football manager who was last employed as manager of the Benin national side, a position he took up in December 2007 and left in May 2008.-Coaching career:...
, former manager of Kenya national football teamKenya national football teamThe Kenya national football team, nicknamed the Harambee Stars, is the national team of Kenya and is controlled by Football Kenya Limited, the governing body of football in Kenya. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
. The German national died of cancer aged 57.
September
- September 17 - Michael OmondiMichael OmondiMichael Omondi Jakoyo was a field hockey midfielder and Olympic competitor from Kenya.He died in Nairobi.-Hockey career:He played High School hockey for Kisumu Boys' School...
, former field hockey player and Olympic competitor dies of short illness aged 46.
November
- November 15 - Reuben Chesire, 67, former MP and assistant minister dies of illness
December
- December 5 - Rawson MachariaRawson MachariaRawson Mbugua Macharia was the key prosecution witness at the trial of the Kapenguria Six, Kenyan nationalists amongst whom Jomo Kenyatta was prominent...
, aged late 80's, prosecution witness at the Kapenguria SixKapenguria SixThe Kapenguria Six - Bildad Kaggia, Kung'u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng' Oneko - were six leading Kenyan nationalists who were arrested in 1952, tried at Kapenguria in 1952-3, and imprisoned thereafter in Northern Kenya....
trial, died after being hit by a motorcycle . - December 30 - Edwin Nyaseda, 56, former Kenya PoliceKenya PoliceThe Kenya Police is a national body in charge of law enforcement in the East Africa State of Kenya. While organised at a national level, each arm reports to a Provincial police authority, which in turn divides its force by local Police Divisions, headquartered at local police stations...
commissioner dies of illness
January - March
- January 1 - Several new year's road running races were won by Kenyans. Robert Kipkoech CheruiyotRobert Kipkoech CheruiyotRobert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :...
won the Saint Silvester Road Race in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Patrick IvutiPatrick IvutiPatrick Ivuti is a Kenyan long distance athlete who currently resides in Nairobi, Kenya. He won the Chicago Marathon held on October 7, 2007 with a time of 2:11:11. The race was a photo finish culmination of a shoulder to shoulder final 300 meter stretch run with Jaouad Gharib down Columbus Drive...
finished second. Alice TimbililiAlice TimbililiAlice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics....
won the women's race . San Silvestre VallecanaSan Silvestre VallecanaThe San Silvestre Vallecana is an annual 10 km road race celebrated on December 31 in Madrid since 1964, in the borough of Vallecas, Spain. It is has two editions: a fun run for amateur athletes and an elite race for professional athletes....
race in Spain was won by Josphat Kiprono Menjo and Vivian CheruiyotVivian CheruiyotVivian Cheruiyot is an athlete from Kenya who specialises in long distance running. She represented Kenya at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics...
respectively . Edwin SoiEdwin SoiEdwin Cheruiyot Soi is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 and 5000 metres.His earliest honours were team gold medals with Kenya at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2006 and 2007...
and Sylvia KibetSylvia KibetSylvia Jebiwott Kibet is an Kenyan long-distance runner. She was the silver medallist at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in the 5000 metres...
were the winners of Boclassic Silvesterlauf race in Bolzano, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Micah KogoMicah KogoMicah Kemboi Kogo is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the 10,000 metres. He is the former world record holder in the 10 kilometres road race event with a time of 27:01, which he lost to countryman Leonard Komon on September 27, 2010...
won Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles race in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, setting a new course record . - February 9–10 - Kenyan national rugby sevens teamKenya national rugby union team (sevens)The Kenya national rugby union sevens team compete in the IRB Sevens World Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens. They are currently one of the 12 "core teams" of the IRB Sevens, with a guaranteed place in all eight events each season....
reaches main cup semifinal at the 2008 USA Sevens2008 USA SevensThe USA Sevens, with the New Zealand brewery Steinlager as the presenting sponsor, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
. - March 19 - Jason DunfordJason DunfordJason Edward Dunford is a swimmer from Kenya. He is predominantly a butterfly and freestyle sprinter. He has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, Universiade, All-Africa Games and African Championships, and reached finals at Olympics, World Championships and Short Course World Championships....
and Janeth JepkosgeiJaneth JepkosgeiJaneth Jepkosgei is a Kenyan middle distance runner and world champion.- Early career :Janeth, nicknamed "Eldoret Express" is from Kabirirsang, near Kapsabet. Famous athletes Wilson Kipketer and Wilfred Bungei are also from the same village. She started athletics while at Kapsumbeiywo Primary...
won the 2007 Kenyan Sports Personality of the YearKenyan Sports Personality of the YearKenyan 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 Kenyan Sport...
awards for men and women, respectively . - March 6–9 - The 2008 Kenya OpenKenya OpenThe Kenya Open is a golf tournament in Kenya and has been an event on the European based Challenge Tour schedule since 1991. It was founded in 1967, and has been held at Muthaiga Golf Club near Nairobi every year except 1968 and between 2004 and 2008, when the tournament was held at Karen Country...
golf tournament held at Karen Golf Club in Nairobi was won by Iain Pyman of England .
April - June
- April 13 - Martin LelMartin LelMartin Kiptolo Lel is a Kenyan long distance and marathon runner. He won the London Marathon in 2005, 2007, and 2008, the New York City Marathon in 2003 and 2007 and the Great North Run in 2007 and 2009. His personal best time, , is 2:05:15, which he ran in the 2008 London Marathon setting a...
beats the course record winning London MarathonLondon MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
for the third time. Samuel WanjiruSamuel WanjiruSamuel Kamau Wanjiru was a Kenyan athlete, who specialized in long distance running. He became a professional at a young age and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old...
finished close second. William KipsangWilliam KipsangWilliam Kipsang is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon.His best performance was on 13 April 2008, winning the Rotterdam Marathon with a new course record and PR of 2:05:49. On 15 April 2007 he was placed third in this race, running in difficult circumstances due to the...
won the Rotterdam MarathonRotterdam MarathonThe Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
, also setting a new course record. - April 21 - Robert Kipkoech CheruiyotRobert Kipkoech CheruiyotRobert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :...
won Boston MarathonBoston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
for the fourth time. - April 30-May 4 - The 2008 African Championships in Athletics2008 African Championships in AthleticsThe 16th African Championships in Athletics was held in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, from April 30 to May 4, 2008. The competition venue was the Addis Ababa Stadium. It is the largest Athletics event held in Ethiopia to date...
were held in EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Kenya won a total of 16 medals, five of them golden. The Kenyan gold medalists were David RudishaDavid RudishaDavid Lekuta Rudisha is a Kenyan middle distance runner and world record holder in the 800 metres with a time of 1:41.01. Rudisha holds four of the ten fastest times for this event.-Early life:...
(800m), Haron KeitanyHaron KeitanyHaron Keitany is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in 1500 metres. In 2008, he won 1500 metres races at the African Championships, the IAAF Golden League meeting of Weltklasse Zürich, and World Athletics Final...
(1500m), Richard MateelongRichard MateelongRichard Kipkemboi Mateelong is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metre steeplechase. He won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and he has two World Championship medals in the discipline.-Career:He was born in Lenape village, near Narok town in 1983. He...
(3000m steeplechase), Pamela Chelimo (800m) and Grace WanjiruGrace WanjiruGrace Wanjiru Njue is a female race walker from Kenya. She is a three-time African Champion and a Commonwealth Games medallist.grace wanijiru used to have the last name walker...
(20 km walk). - May 4 - Kenya prisons wins the 2008 Women’s African Clubs Championship in volleyball .
- May 31 - June 22 - Kenya national football teamKenya national football teamThe Kenya national football team, nicknamed the Harambee Stars, is the national team of Kenya and is controlled by Football Kenya Limited, the governing body of football in Kenya. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
plays four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa...
matches over four consecutive weekends, losing to Namibia away, winning Guinea and Zimbabwe at home and drawing with Zimbabwe away. - June 1–18-year old Pamela JelimoPamela JelimoPamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot...
runs a new women's 800 metres African Record. The previous one was held by Maria de Lurdes Mutola of MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. - June 22, 2008: Kenya wins the 2008 edition of Safari SevensSafari SevensThe Safari Sevens, known as the Safaricom Sevens after main sponsors Safaricom is an annual rugby sevens tournament held in Kenya. The tournament is run by the Kenya Rugby Football Union...
. In the final, Kenya beat Emerging SpringboksEmerging SpringboksThe Emerging Springboks are the second national rugby union team in South africa after the national side. They compete every year in the Nations Cup alongside the full national teams of Namibia, Romania and Georgia as well as Argentina Jaguars and Italy A. Now and again they also play touring sides...
31-12 . - June 27–29 - The 2008 Safari RallySafari RallyThe Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II...
was won by Lee Rose, former Kenyan champion .
July - September
- July 8–13 - The 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics2008 World Junior Championships in AthleticsThe 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2008 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz in Poland at the Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium between 8 and 13 July 2008....
were held in Bydgoszcz, PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Kenya finished third in the medals table by winning four gold medals, five silver and three bronze. Kenyan gold medalists were Josphat Bett (10,000m men), Jonathan Muia (3,000m SC men), Mercy CheronoMercy CheronoMercy Cherono is a Kenyan middle distance runner. She is a two-time world junior champion in the 3000 metres and has also won gold medals at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics and 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games...
(3,000m women) and Christine Kambua (3,000m SC women). - July 27 - Tusker FC wins the 2008 edition of CECAFA Clubs Cup.
- August 2–5 - Kenya fails at the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier-Group B:---------Semi-finals:-----Finals:---------External links:* from Cricinfo* from CricketArchive* from CricketEurope...
- August 8–24 - The 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
were held in BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Kenya got a medal record of 5-5-4. All of Kenya's medallists came from the Olympic athletics competition. The gold medalists were Wilfred BungeiWilfred BungeiWilfred Kipkemboi Bungei is a Kenyan middle distance runner, who won the 800 m gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing...
(800m men), Brimin KiprutoBrimin KiprutoBrimin Kipruto is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He was born in Korkitony, Keiyo District...
(steeplechase men), Samuel WanjiruSamuel WanjiruSamuel Kamau Wanjiru was a Kenyan athlete, who specialized in long distance running. He became a professional at a young age and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old...
(marathon men), Pamela JelimoPamela JelimoPamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot...
(800m women) and Nancy LagatNancy LagatNancy Jebet Langat is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specialises in the 1500 metres. She won the 1500 metre final at the 2008 Summer Olympics, in a personal best time of 4:00.23....
(1500m women) - August 30 - Kenya Harlequins wins Kenya Cup, the prime rugby union competition on Kenya
- September 5 - Pamela Jelimo wins the IAAF Golden LeagueIAAF Golden LeagueThe IAAF Golden League was an annual series of track and field meetings organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations...
jackpot - September 6 - Kenya wins a 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Namibia at home.
- September 9–12 - The Women’s junior African Nations Championship in volleyballGirl's Africa Volleyball Championship U18The Women's Africa Volleyball Championship U18 is a sport competition for national teams with women players under 18 years, currently held biannually and organized by the Confédération Africaine de Volleyball, the Africa volleyball federation....
was held in Kenya. The tournament was won by Egypt, while Kenya finished third out of five participants
October - December
- October 12 - Kenya lost a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier to Guinea, but qualifies for the final qualifying round
- November 22 - Mathare UnitedMathare UnitedMathare United Football Club is a Kenyan professional football club, based in Mathare Slums Nairobi Kenya,Mathare United was founded in August 1987.The setting is St. Teresa's Church...
wins its maiden Kenyan Premier LeagueKenyan Premier LeagueThe Kenyan Premier League is the first division football league in Kenya. It was formed in 1963 under the Kenya Football Federation but is now controlled by Football Kenya Limited....
title . - November 23 - Baldev Chager clinches the 2008 Kenya National Rally Championship title .
- December 1–7 - The 2008 African Swimming Championships2008 African Swimming ChampionshipsThe 9th African Swimming Championships were held at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa from December 1-7, 2008.-Participants:Swimmers from 18 countries competed at the 2008 African Swimming Championships:- Medal standings :- Men's events :...
were held in JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Kenya won five gold medals; three by Jason DunfordJason DunfordJason Edward Dunford is a swimmer from Kenya. He is predominantly a butterfly and freestyle sprinter. He has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, Universiade, All-Africa Games and African Championships, and reached finals at Olympics, World Championships and Short Course World Championships....
and two by Achieng Ajulu-BushellAchieng Ajulu-BushellAchieng Ajulu-Bushell is a British swimmer, who won the 50m and 100m breaststroke at the 2010 British Swimming Championships...
.