Jamaica, Kenya Olympic Committees ink partnership
Published:Friday | March 27, 2026 | 12:09 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel to see both nations working closely together ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
JOA president Christopher Samuda and NOCK president Shadrack Maluki signed the agreement to formalise a relationship between the two organisations to further their sporting development.
Maluki welcomed the agreement and said it will prove a mutually beneficial partnership.
He explained that, with Jamaica famous for its sprint athletes and Kenya renowned for their middle and long distance programmes, both countries stand to learn a lot from each other.
“I am looking at the wonderful future where we are going to share our experiences,” Maluki explained.
“Because Jamaica is good in short distances. Jamaica is good in other disciplines and Kenya is very good in long distances. So, when I look at Jamaica and I look at Kenya, and you fuse the two nations, there will be two great powers in the world of sports in the global arena.”
Maluki said the agreement is more than just developing athletes, but is also aimed at sharing cultures and values.
He said the partnership will see Jamaican athletes and coaches learning in Kenya, while Kenyan athletes and coaches will come to Jamaica.
Maluki said the MOU is only formalising a partnership which already existed, as Kenyan junior athletes have been training in Jamaica and competing at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championship over the past few years.
He explained that, with the MOU, both nations have ensured the partnership will now go both ways.
“The fact that we have actually athletes here who are attending school in Jamaica, training in Jamaica, and getting the expertise right here in Jamaica, it’s just the beginning,” the NOCK boss said.
“You find that Jamaicans still need to come to Nairobi, study in Nairobi, feel at home, and go to start training long distances in high altitude centres, which we have in Kenya. So we don’t want a relationship where you find it’s a one way. We want a relationship where both countries are going to enjoy,” he continued.
“And it’s not only sports, as I was saying, it’s also going to touch on cultural values. Where you find Kenyans will learn the culture of Jamaicans, and Jamaicans will learn more about Kenyan culture. So, by so doing, it becomes a long-term relationship.”
MODEL PARTNERSHIP
Samuda said the MOU was an important step for Jamaica’s development ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, and hopes this can be an inspiration for other countries to emulate.
“It is important for us because we always look for ways to build partnerships and to cement relationships in sport. Kenya and Jamaica, we have a very good history, particularly in track and field, and we thought it would be best to cement our energies, cement our aspirations in the interest of our athletes.”
Samuda is confident the MOU will be extended beyond the 2028 Olympics, and said the two countries will not only be collaborating in track and field, but with other Olympic sports as well.
“There will be the exchange of expertise in track and field both at the coaching level and, of course, athletes will be transitioning between the two countries. But the MOU also deals with other sports as well,” Samuda explained.
“It will be a symbiotic relationship and we will be zeroing on designated sports, about six or seven sports at a time, so that we can build the capacity and ability of our professionals,” he continued.
“Of course, it will be renewed because we believe that this is a partnership. But the protocols in the Olympic Games prescribe a period of the MOU. But certainly, it will be renewed because outcomes take a long time, four or five years.”