Kenyan air rifle shooter Priscilla Mburu has set her sights firmly on a podium finish at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, bolstered by a prestigious second nod from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship program.

Mburu, who missed out on the Paris 2024 cycle due to logistical hurdles, describes the scholarship as a "vote of confidence" from the global sporting body. Her journey highlights the diversification of Kenya's sporting prowess beyond the track and field dominance that the nation is famous for.

A Second Shot at Glory

The scholarship, administered locally by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), is a game-changer for athletes in technical sports like shooting, which require expensive equipment and international exposure. Mburu is among a select cohort of eight Kenyans, including tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi, chosen for this elite support pathway.

• The Package: The funding covers specialized coaching, high-level equipment maintenance, travel for qualifiers, and athlete welfare—crucial components for a sport where precision is measured in millimeters.
• Strategic Shift: NOCK's selection of a shooter signals a deliberate strategy to cast the net wider for medals. "We cannot rely on athletics alone," said a NOCK official. "Priscilla represents the new frontier of Kenyan sports."
• The Goal: Mburu isn't just aiming to participate; she wants a medal. "The first scholarship was a learning curve. This one is for execution," she told reporters in Nairobi.

Breaking Barriers

Shooting has traditionally been viewed as an elite, inaccessible sport in Kenya. Mburu’s rise challenges that narrative, inspiring a new generation to look beyond the running track. With the financial burden eased, the gun is now in her hands to deliver.