Barnaba Korir and Paul Kipsiele Koech honoured as national heroes at Mashujaa Day

Barnaba Korir and Paul Kipsiele Koech were among the heroes honoured under the sports category at today's national Mashujaa Day celebration at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Pimeys Sports News saw at the ceremony. Both wore the white scarves of the National Heroes Council, which oversees the honours.

President William Ruto led the national celebration, held this year under the theme "Security, Sports and the Finance Sector", The Star reports. The National Heroes Council said ahead of the day that 264 heroes and heroines would be recognised across 14 categories, sports among them, KBC reported.

Korir: from youth director to the Olympic committee

Korir has spent years in athletics administration. As an Athletics Kenya executive committee member and the federation's youth director, he made the case in April 2025 that athletics needed a stronger voice in the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, arguing that he was "the right person to advocate for athletes' interests", The Standard reported.

In July 2025 he was elected first vice president of NOC-K, winning 15 of 27 votes, Capital FM reported. Since Nairobi was awarded the 2029 World Athletics Championships, he has pressed for the government, Athletics Kenya and the organising committee to work as one. "Delivery will be our defining achievement," he said last week. Read more.

Korir is also the man behind three of Kenya's biggest meetings. He is meet director of the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, which World Athletics will use in April 2027 as a test event for the 2029 Championships, The Star reported. He also directs the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country at Lobo Village in Eldoret and the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run in Uasin Gishu County, the only two World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold races in Africa, according to The Star and Nation.

Kipsiele: an Olympic medallist from the steeplechase

Paul Kipsiele Koech won bronze in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He won the first Diamond League steeplechase title in 2010, and his best of 7:54.31 came in Rome in 2012.

Honouring the two in Eldoret, the home of so many Kenyan champions, linked this year's sports theme to the athletes and administrators behind Kenya's running success.