Kenya, WADA Step Up War on Doping Ahead of Major Sporting Events

Story by Monyonge O’kebati
Kenya and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have stepped up cooperation in the fight against doping, with new measures targeting those who manufacture, supply and distribute prohibited substances to athletes.
Speaking to journalists at Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 6, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and WADA President Witold Bańka said stronger collaboration between Kenyan authorities and the global anti-doping body will be critical in protecting the integrity of the country’s sport.
Bańka said WADA was working with Kenyan authorities on measures to identify and pursue individuals involved in the supply of doping substances, stressing that the fight against doping must go beyond testing athletes.

He said authorities need to focus on the wider networks behind doping, including people who provide prohibited substances to athletes, as part of efforts to keep Kenyan sport clean.
The WADA president said the agency was committed to supporting Kenya in strengthening its anti-doping systems and ensuring that athletes who compete clean are protected from those seeking to gain an unfair advantage.
The cooperation comes as Kenya prepares to host major international sporting events, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Mvurya said the Government wants Kenyan athletes to win with integrity and has been implementing a roadmap of action plans since 2025 to strengthen the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
He said ADAK requires adequate resources and institutional support to match Kenya’s status as a global sporting power.
“We have been very consistent in making sure that we provide the support to make sure that ADAK can play its role,” Mvurya said.
The CS said the Government would continue working with WADA while mobilising other agencies and stakeholders to strengthen the country’s anti-doping response.
He said the fight against doping cannot be left to one institution, noting that effective enforcement requires cooperation in areas including intelligence and information gathering, investigations and enforcement of anti-doping regulations.
Kenya already has an anti-doping law, but Mvurya said the Government has been reviewing its policies and legislation in preparation for new requirements expected to be implemented from 2027.
The Government is working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the country’s legal and institutional framework is aligned with international anti-doping standards.
Bańka’s visit comes at a critical time for Kenyan sport, with the country seeking to reinforce its reputation as a leading athletics nation while preparing to host global competitions.
The two sides said continued cooperation, stronger enforcement and action against the wider supply chain of prohibited substances will be essential in ensuring Kenyan athletes compete in a clean and credible sporting environment.