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After a year of self-imposed absence from national duty, decorated Kenyan athlete Daniel Simiu Ebenyo has announced his readiness to rejoin Team Kenya, aiming to compete in upcoming championship races. His return follows a period of disillusionment after missing out on the 2024 Olympic Games.
Kenyan long-distance runner Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, a silver medallist at the 2023 World 10,000 metres and 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m, has declared his intention to end his self-imposed 'exile' and once again represent Kenya in international competitions. The announcement, made on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, signals a significant shift for the athlete who had previously vowed not to compete for the national team after a controversial exclusion from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Simiu, who turned 30 on September 18, 2025, expressed a renewed determination, stating, “There comes a time when the fire inside a runner burns too strongly to be contained. For me, that time is now.” This declaration sets the stage for his potential inclusion in future national squads, including the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September 2025, for which he has appealed to Athletics Kenya (AK) for consideration in the marathon team.
Simiu's decision to step away from national representation stemmed from his disappointment at being overlooked for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He had been a strong contender for the men's 10,000m race, particularly after being scheduled to compete in the 2024 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, USA, which Athletics Kenya designated as an Olympic selection event.
However, a last-minute delay in securing a travel visa led to his late arrival in Oregon, impacting his performance where he finished eighth. Despite being a pre-race favourite, Athletics Kenya opted for Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kimeli, and Bernard Kibet, a decision that angered many local athletics fans and led to Simiu's vow to never represent Kenya again. Kenya subsequently failed to secure a medal in the men's 10,000m at the Paris Olympics, with Kibet, the best-placed Kenyan, finishing fourth.
Simiu's return comes at a time when Kenya's athletics scene is under intense scrutiny regarding anti-doping compliance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently granted Kenya a four-month reprieve, effective October 5, 2025, to fully comply with clean sport regulations, narrowly avoiding immediate sanctions. This decision followed an audit in May 2024 that highlighted several critical requirements not addressed by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
ADAK has provisionally suspended 33 Kenyan sportsmen and women for various doping violations, with 26 of these cases involving athletes. This marks the highest number of suspensions by ADAK since January 2024, attributed to enhanced testing efforts supported by an annual government boost of KSh 600 million for anti-doping programmes.
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo has a notable career, including a silver medal in the 5,000m at the 2022 African Athletics Championships and a gold medal with the senior team at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships.
Despite the Olympic setback, Simiu has continued to demonstrate strong performances. He made an impressive marathon debut at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, finishing fifth with a time of 2:06:04. He also secured victory at the 2024 Berlin Half Marathon, clocking 59:30. In January 2024, he won his maiden National Police Cross Country Championships.
All eyes will be on Athletics Kenya to see how they respond to Simiu's declaration and whether he will be included in the national team for upcoming events, particularly the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. His recent performances, especially in the marathon, present a compelling case for his inclusion. The ongoing efforts by ADAK to meet WADA's compliance requirements will also be crucial in ensuring Kenyan athletes can compete without the threat of sanctions.
