Marius Kipserem of Kenya wins Rotterdam Marathon

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Marius Kipserem of Kenya won the 36th Rotterdam Marathon is a personal best time of 2 hours, six minutes and 11 seconds Sunday, making the most of warm and almost wind-free conditions on the course around the Dutch port.

Kipserem ran alone down the finishing straight on Coolsingel street that runs through the heart of Rotterdam cheered on by thousands of spectators.

Solomon Deksisa of Ethiopia finished second in 2:06.22, just over a minute ahead of his countryman Geoffrey Kiriu, who completed the race in 2:07.23.

Leterbrhan Gebreslasea of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:26.15. Fellow Ethiopian Sutume Kebede was second in 2:28.04 and Rebecca Korir of Kenya was third in 2:29.16.

By The Associated Press

April 10, 2016 9:52 am

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Kenya wins big at the World Travel Awards

Kenya wins big at the World Travel Awards

Kenya’s tourism industry has received a shot in the arm after the country bagged more than ten awards at the World Travel Awards in Zanzibar.

The Kenya Tourism Board was voted Africa’s best tourism board, with Kenyan tourism players heaping praise on the board for its effort in marketing the country.

Also Read: Clinton secures win as husband pledges she will ‘never quit’

“We would like to thank the Kenya Tourism Board for the work they’re doing marketing the country as a destination of choice for tourists,” said Ms Rosemary Mugambi of the Serena Hotels.

The award’s gala that was held at the Diamonds La Gemma dell’Est resort in Zanzibar saw Mombasa, Kenya voted Africa’s leading destination for tourism while Diani Beach was voted Africa’s dream destination and Nairobi voted Africa’s leading business meeting and conference destination.

The biggest winner of the night was Maasai Mara, which was voted the best national park in Africa.

Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) was also named Africa’s leading airline and the best for business class travellers.

This comes as KQ is in the process of restructuring its operations in a bid to cut down costs to save the ailing airline.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, KQ marketing manager Chris Diaz said he was proud and honoured to have received the awards on behalf of the airline, adding that it came through the efforts of their staff that has maintained the excellent standards synonymous with the airline.

“Despite the challenges currently being experienced, we will maintain excellence in our services and ensure that our quality is not compromised,” he assured.

Other Kenyan companies that were feted included the Diamond’s dream of Africa which was named Africa’s leading all-inclusive hotel, Leopard beach resort and spa which won the award for Africa’s leading family resort, Tribe Hotel Kenya which was voted Africa’s leading design hotel and Serena Hotel which was voted Africa’s best green hotel.

By Lisa Kamau, Citizen Digital

10 April 2016

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Tears of joy as Mr World Kenya shines in global modelling contest By Steven

Tears of joy as Mr World Kenya shines in global modelling contest By Steven

Mr World Kenya tops Africa, taking the fourth place in the annual Mr World 2016 edition held in UK on July 19 2016 A Kenyan, who was among the 46 finalists in the Mr World 2016 pageant, emerged fourth during the competition held in UK. Kevin Oduor, 20, saw it coming. And when the judges at the Mr World 2016 finals made their verdict, he broke down as tears of joy freely flowed down his cheeks. It was a dream come true as he achieved a feat no other Kenyan male model has attained on a world stage. Technically, Kevin (above) is now Africa's most desirable man or in other words, Africa's most eligible bachelor (according to the Mr World titles) as he topped the African chapter. During the Mr World 2016 gala held in Southport, UK, on Tuesday night, the reigning Mr World Kenya scored a first. He made it to the top four, technically acquiring the title of the most desirable man in Africa. Kevin, a former Mr Catholic University, stood tall, carrying the Kenyan flag high in a competitive final that featured top models from all over the world, among them men who model for international fashion brands. READ MORE Kenyans are now in the golden age of titles... "I am still ecstatic. It is amazing. I can't believe this. It is an awesome feeling. I am lost for words and I thank God for all this," a jubilant Kevin told The Standard minutes after he was announced the fourth best at the Southport Theatre, Floral Hall, The Promenade, Southport. "Surprisingly, I have been expecting to score well here and I am grateful I made it through," Kevin said. It was a night of many firsts as 26-year-old Mr India Rohit Khandelwal was crowned the winner, becoming the first Indian to win the coveted title and walking away with $50,000 prize money. Puerto Rico was first runner-up while Mr Mexico came third. "The experience was phenomenal. Being on stage with 46 other desirable men is just a feeling I can't explain. And then, top up that with a top five finish... I did it for Kenya, my country that I am so proud of," Kevin said. Unlike the Miss World pageant, which is the most prestigious beauty pageant, Mr World has always been treated lowly locally. Male modelling is not popular in Kenya. That explains why Kevin's departure for UK went unnoticed.

Kisuli Muendo July 21st 2016

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000209347/tears-of-joy-as-mr-world-kenya-shines-in-global-modelling-contest

Breakthru Kenya:

Documenting and promoting the successes of Kenya and Kenyans.

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Kenyan AWARD Fellow Wins AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Award

Kenyan AWARD Fellow Wins AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Award

Florence Habwe, a doctoral fellow at Maseno University, has received the prestigious Young Scientist National Award (Life Sciences) from the African Union (AU) and The World of Academic Sciences (TWAS) in recognition of her research on the preservation of African indigenous vegetables.

The awards are designed to recognize scientific excellence. In each participating country, two US$5,000 prizes are awarded each year in the categories of life and earth sciences, and basic sciences, technology, and innovation.

“AWARD introduced me to the world of publishing,” says Habwe. “I published my first paper after I completed the AWARD workshop on scientific writing, and later four more, which led to this achievement. I thank AWARD and my mentor, Professor Mary Abekutsa-Onyango, and my supervisors for how far I have come.”

Habwe says her science skills and confidence as a researcher have continued to develop in the two years since she graduated from the program. “I strengthened my scientific knowledge through collaboration with fellow women scientists and others,” she says. “I now know where to go to do what. When I won an AWARD Fellowship in 2009, I was very shy and could hardly speak to people. All that has changed,” she adds, laughing.

TWAS, the AU, and national ministries of science and technology partnered with national science academies, scientific research councils, and high-level research organizations in Africa to institute the AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Awards.

The award celebration was hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya on December 11.

·       Ajabu! Weekly News for Africans Abroad

·       Date: Thu, Mar 17 2016

Breakthru Kenya:

Documenting and promoting the successes of Kenya and Kenyans.

Celebrating the heroes and heroines of our nation.

G Creative wins Best Nation Brand Award for ‘Make It Kenya’

G Creative wins Best Nation Brand Award for ‘Make It Kenya’

Hot on the heels of Grayling’s sweep at the African Excellence Awards, Graying META’s creative offer, G Creative, has won a Transform MENA Award in the Best Nation Brand category. G Creative won the award for the Make It Kenya Campaign, an international nation brand for the Kenya Ministry of Tourism, developed in 2015 and launched by Kenya’s President HE Uhuru Kenyatta at The Milan Expo 2015.

Carolina Salas, Head of G Creative, said of the win: “We’re delighted to have been recognized by Transform MENA with this award for the creation of the Make It Kenya brand. The G Creative and Grayling teams have put so much into the Make It Kenya campaign, so this win feels brilliant. Our biggest recognision has been to develop a brand that represents and identify Kenyans around the world and we are really proud of it.”

The full list of awards is as follows:

WINNER: Nation Brand – Make it kenya

Highly Commended:

Seha – Unwani campaign – Best photography style/illustration

Grayling – Brand refresh

Dettol-Proscalp – Brand experience

One of the Transform Award judges commented: “This was a really well-executed project. What stood out the most was not just the fact that it effectively met the challenge at hand or had a nice logo, but rather that the strategy was very comprehensive. The branding translated well across all channels and really does the job that the team intended. Well done.” 

The Make It Kenya brand was completely developed and produced by G Creative.

 More information on Make It Kenya here. 

---

Grayling Team

19th May 2016

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Brit born and trained in Kenya wins Tour de France

Brit born and trained in Kenya wins Tour de France

Brit born and trained in Kenya wins Tour de France

UK cyclist Chris Froome, who was born and trained in Africa and speaks Swahili, says he hopes that his victory this month in the 100th Tour de France will inspire other young Africans.

Froome, 28, was born in Kenya to parents of British descent. At the age of 14, he moved to South Africa to go to school and then university in Johannesburg.

He was introduced to cycling by David Kinjah, a professional Kenyan cyclist, and won a cycling medal for Kenya in the 2007 All Africa Games.

His performances in 2008 attracted the attention of British Cycling coach, Rod Ellingworth who believed Froome had potential.

“Although I was riding under the Kenyan flag I made it clear that I had always carried a British passport and felt British,” said Froome earlier this year. “It was then we talked about racing under the Union Flag, and we stayed in touch.”

However, Froome’s father Clive, who still lives in Kenya, said his son “feels at home” in Kenya and South Africa just as much as he does in the UK.

“He has shared affiliation and affection for all three,” he said.

Kinjah said seeing Froome win the Tour was “a wonderful, wonderful feeling”

Although competitive cycling is not hugely popular in Kenya, a large number of fans gathered to watch and celebrate Froome’s victory in a bar in the wealthy Westlands suburb of Nairobi.

Speaking to the BBC, Kinjah said he initially thought Froome was “another young kid” from a wealthy family, before realising that he was a “poor white boy”.

“And soon when we started to be friends, I never charged his mother any money because Chris was quickly becoming one of us and he loved to be in the village with us,” he said.

“He was like one of us, our brother. He was just funny and happy, a white boy who accepted our village and ate our food.”
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After his victory, Froome said: “I’d like my performances here to help inspire a lot of youngsters, especially young Africans.”

“They have to believe they can get out of Africa to make it to European teams.”

By AGENCY REPORTER - Fri Jul 26,

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Kenya wins men’s, women’s team races at Bolder Boulder

Kenya wins men’s, women’s team races at Bolder Boulder

Isaac Mukundi won the Bolder Boulder 10-kilmeter race Monday as he led Kenya to the international team crown.

The women also captured the team title to give the country its second sweep at one of the nation’s largest road races.

The Kenyans also won both team titles in 2001.

Mukundi began to pull away late in the race and finished in 29 minutes, 12.14 seconds, edging Terefe Debela of Ethiopia. Team USA’s Diego Estrada finished third as the Americans had four finishers in the top 10 to push the Kenyans.

Amane Gobena of Ethiopia cruised to the women’s crown, finishing in 33:39.87. Miyuki Uehara of Japan was second, while Alisha Williams was the top American finisher in eighth.

There were around 51,000 runners registered for the race.

Former University of Nebraska at Kearney runner Tanner Fruit finished fifth in the Citizen’s Race. Other results of local runners were not available at the Hub’s press time.

By Associated Press |

Breakthru Kenya - Documenting the successes of Kenya and Kenyans.