- Kenya 7s ace Kevin Wekesa wins IOC Climate Action Award 2025.
- He earned his award 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 7s ace Kevin Wekesa remains a tremendous source of national pride, elevating the country’s name on the global stage while cementing his role as a consistent and influential figure both on and off the pitch.
The talismanic Shujaa forward has recently been named one of the winners of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Climate Action Awards 2025, thanks to his impactful initiative dubbed Play Green.
The awards recognize and celebrate efforts by athletes across five categories: Olympic and Paralympic competitors, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and International Federations (IFs).
They honor initiatives that deliver measurable results, lessen the environmental footprint of sport and motivate others to take meaningful steps for the climate.
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Kevin Wekesa wins IOC Climate Action award
Reacting to the recognition, the Kabras Sugar forward expressed his delight at the recognition.
“Truly honoured to be named an IOC Climate Action Award winner. Through Play Green we’re cutting single-use plastics in sports and working with schools to turn climate education into action,” he posted on his social media.
Wekesa founded Play Green to use sport as a platform for climate action, responding to rising temperatures and desertification that are disrupting livelihoods across Kenya.
So far, the program has replaced single-use plastic bottles with reusable aluminium bottles for Kenya’s national rugby teams, saving nearly 1,000 plastic bottles each week.
Beyond that, Kevin has woven sustainability into education and community outreach.
Through partnerships with 40 schools, Play Green combines tree-planting with workshops on water conservation, waste management, and climate justice.
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To date, the effort has supported the planting of 2,300 trees and engaged thousands of young people in climate education.
Kevin has also brought this mission to clubs and federations, launching match-day recycling drives and installing clearly marked bins and collection points to divert waste from landfills.
His goal is to expand Play Green nationwide by introducing plastic-free stadium zones, promoting biodegradable packaging, and establishing a Green Ambassador programme in schools.
With the support of this award, Kevin hopes to turn these plans into a replicable model for grassroots climate action through sport.
Other 2025 winners include Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis (New Zealand), the NOC of the Netherlands, and the International Biathlon Union, with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and World Sailing receiving “Highly Commended” recognition.