- Kenya Rugby 7s star Kevin Wekesa has been shortlisted for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Awards 2025.
- He earned his nomination in the Athlete category for his innovative initiative, Play Green.
- His program provides aluminium bottles to the men’s and women’s national teams, cutting roughly 144 single-use plastic bottles per training session.
Kenya Rugby 7s star Kevin Wekesa continues to be a source of national pride, not only by raising the country name on the global stage but also by establishing himself as a consistent and influential figure both on and off the pitch.
Recently, the talismanic Shujaa forward has been nominated a finalist for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Climate Action Awards 2025.
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The awards recognize and reward actions taken by athletes in five categories: Olympic and Paralympic athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and International Federations (IFs).
They honor actions that generate measurable results, reduce the environmental impact of sport, and inspire and educate others to take consequential actions for climate action.
Why Kenya Rugby 7s star Kevin Wekesa was named in the final list of IOC for Climate Action Awards 2025?
Wekesa earned his nomination in the Athlete category for his initiative, known as “Play Green.”
Through this project, he supplies aluminium bottles to the men’s and women’s national teams, eliminating approximately 144 single-use plastic bottles per training session.
This effort saves nearly 1,000 bottles every week.
Additionally, Kevin has partnered with 40 schools across Kenya, providing mentorship and workshops on sustainability in sport.
As part of this programme, students have put their climate education into practice by helping to plant 2,300 trees.
On his part, Wekesa expressed profound gratitude and reflected on how rugby has shaped his perspective.
Incredibly honoured to be named a finalist for the IOC Climate Action Award. This recognition is for everyone who believes in making rugby a force for good, on and off the pitch.
Rugby has taught me teamwork extends beyond the pitch, it’s about coming together to protect the environment and communities.
To everyone walking this journey with me, let’s keep driving change one try, one tree and let’s say no to single use plastic,” he wrote on his social media.
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In this category, he stands alongside other distinguished athletes:
Rhydian Cowley, Athletics, Australia – Rhydian advocates for climate action by supporting the development of climate action plans with national sports organisations, contributing to reductions in emissions and plastic use.
Hugo Inglis, Hockey, New Zealand – Hugo is a co-founder of “High Impact Athletes” (HIA), a movement that directs athlete funding towards evidence-based, systemic climate solutions.
Oliver Scholfield, Hockey, Canada – Oliver co-founded “Racing to Zero,” a non-profit sustainability consultancy that helps sports organisations understand and reduce their environmental impact.
Gabrielle Smith, Rowing, Canada – Gabrielle leads the “Rising Tides” project, which focuses on improving water quality and cleaning Canada’s waterways.
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Wekesa’s nomination caps off a remarkable year, which has also seen him shortlisted for the 2025 Sport Positive Awards in recognition of his impactful environmental campaigning.
Additionally, he was named in the team that participated in the inaugural Rugby Premier League, further cementing his influence both on and off the field.
