Team Kenya has made a steady start to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, collecting five medals in the opening days of competition as athletics takes center stage in the country’s quest for a strong finish at the multi-sport event.
July 30 Update
Kenya has secured its second gold medal after Faith Cherotich produced a record-breaking performance in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking 9:01.76 to set a new Games record.
July 29 Update
Ferdinand Omanyala eliminated
Defending Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala failed to reach the final after finishing sixth in his semifinal in 10.19 seconds.
Meshack Babu also missed out after clocking 10.39 seconds in his semifinal.
Omanyala blamed wet conditions after his title defense ended.
Kenya misses 10,000m medals
Kenya suffered another setback in the men’s 10,000m despite entering Daniel Ebenyo, Edwin Kurgat and Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui as medal hopefuls.
Kurgat was the best-placed Kenyan in fourth place after running 27:50.98.
Australia’s Ky Robinson won gold, India’s Gulveer Singh took silver and Isle of Man’s David Mullarkey claimed bronze.
As of Wednesday, July 29 morning, Kenya had won one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals to sit 11th on the overall standings.
Team Kenya sent 93 athletes to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, along with around 31 coaches and officials.
This consists of:
- Athletics: 54 athletes (32 men, 22 women)
- 3×3 Basketball: 12 athletes (8 men + 4 women, plus wheelchair team)
- Weightlifting: 2 athletes
- Plus athletes in boxing, judo, para powerlifting, and a few others
Team Kenya Medals Won
Kenya’s first medal of the Games was won by weightlifter Joshua Amunga, who secured bronze in the men’s 60kg category with a total lift of 260kg, comprising a 115kg snatch and a 145kg clean and jerk.
The country’s standout achievement came in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase where Kenya swept the podium in a dominant display that underlined its long-standing supremacy in the event.
Edmund Serem clinched gold in 8:18.23, Simon Koech took silver in 8:18.59, and Leonard Bett completed the clean sweep with bronze after clocking 8:21.63.
The podium sweep came a day after Diana Wanza won silver in the women’s 10,000m to hand Kenya another medal in athletics.
Athletics remains the heartbeat of the campaign, with stars like Ferdinand Omanyala (defending 100m champion), world 800m queen Lilian Odira, and javelin captain Julius Yego still to take center stage in the coming days.
Off the track, Kenya’s 3×3 basketball teams have shown resilience, with the men’s side securing a vital 22-12 victory over Jamaica to keep quarter-final hopes alive.
Team Kenya Commonwealth Program
July 28
Men’s 100m
- Ferdinand Omanyala
- Meshack Babu
- Mark Otieno
Women’s 100m
- Millicent Ndoro
Men’s Long Jump
- Kenyan entrant(s) from team list
Women’s Hammer Throw
- Kenyan entrant(s)
Boxing
- Kenyan boxers in round-of-16 contests
3×3 Basketball
- Men’s team
- Women’s team
- Wheelchair team
Women’s 800m
- Lilian Odira
- Janet Amimo
- Vivian Chebet
Men’s 800m
- Wyclife Kinyamal
- Kelvin Loti
- Nicholas Kiplagat
Men’s Mile
- Timothy Cheruiyot
- Reynold Cheruiyot
- Brian Komen
Women’s Steeplechase
- Faith Cherotich
- Celestine Biwott
Men’s Steeplechase
- Simon Koech
- Edmund Serem
- Leonard Bett
3×3 Basketball
- Semi-finals and medal matches if qualified
July 30
Women’s 5000m
- Caroline Nyaga
- Rebecca Mwangi
Men’s 5000m
- Mathew Kipsang
- Cornelius Kemboi
- Andrew Kiptoo
Women’s 10000m
- Diana Wanza
- Miriam Chebet
Men’s 10000m
- Daniel Ebenyo
- Edwin Kurgat
- Ishmael Rokitto
Javelin
- Julius Yego
- Irene Jepkemboi
Hammer Throw
- Dominic Abunda
Long Jump
- Faith Kipsang
Triple Jump
- Kevin Kemboi
July 31
Athletics Finals and Qualifiers
- Lilian Odira
- Wyclife Kinyamal
- Timothy Cheruiyot
- Faith Cherotich
- Julius Yego
Judo
- Kenyan judokas begin competition
Boxing
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals
August 1
Major Kenyan Medal Prospects
Men’s 800m
- Wyclife Kinyamal
- Kelvin Loti
Women’s 800m
- Lilian Odira
- Janet Amimo
Men’s Mile
- Timothy Cheruiyot
- Reynold Cheruiyot
Women’s Steeplechase
- Faith Cherotich
Men’s Javelin
- Julius Yego
Men’s and Women’s Distance Finals
- Daniel Ebenyo
- Diana Wanza
August 2
Remaining Athletics Finals
Netball Finals
Judo Finals
Closing Ceremony
What Next For Team Kenya
Today’s attention will focus on defending 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala as he begins his quest to retain the Commonwealth title.
Kenya will also look to world 800m champion Lilian Odira, former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot and javelin veteran Julius Yego as the athletics program gathers momentum.
The Commonwealth Games remain one of the biggest international competitions for Kenyan athletes outside the Olympics and World Championships.
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