From the quiet hills of Vihiga County, Ramadhan Odana Ambani has always been running toward something bigger. The 27-year-old Nairobi-based athlete has fought for every opportunity he now holds, but this year marks a turning point. For the first time in his life, he secured a passport, travel clearance, and the gear he needs to compete internationally, thanks to the KES 100,000 he won as a Silver Award recipient in the SportPesa Tujiamini Nairobi Edition 2025.
“It was the first time I ever held a passport,” he says. “That alone felt like a victory. Now I can finally run beyond Kenya.”
Ramadhan had prepared to compete in the Serengeti Safari Marathon, having travelled all the way to Tanzania for what was set to be the biggest race of his career. But upon arrival, unforeseen circumstances led to the event being cancelled. Still, he chooses to focus on what the journey unlocked rather than what it denied.
“The race may not have happened, but getting there showed me that international competition is now within my reach,” he reflects.
Growing up in Mbale, Vihiga County, Ramadhan faced financial hardship, limited facilities, and long stretches where belief was the only thing that kept him going. “I grew up knowing that nothing comes easy,” he says. “Those challenges shaped my discipline and built the endurance I rely on today.”
At just fifteen, he discovered athletics after being inspired by Henry Wanyoike, the legendary visually impaired Kenyan long-distance runner who has beaten all odds to achieve global success. “Seeing how he overcame so much made me believe that I could too,” Ramadhan says.
Before that, he was a footballer at Rungiri Secondary School, training on makeshift pitches and dusty fields. Running, however, kept calling. With no sponsors and worn-out shoes, he trained wherever he could, committed to breaking through.
The Tujiamini Silver Award changed that path in a meaningful way. With the prize money, he bought professional running shoes, proper training gear, paid for race registrations, and covered passport application and travel costs. For the first time, he felt equipped not just to participate, but to compete.
“This support has helped me train better and dream bigger,” he says. “I now have what I need to run competitively and prepare for future international races.”
Ramadhan’s results reflect his growing potential. He has secured first-place finishes at the Mutuini 10 KM, Nchi Run 5 KM, and Ondiri Wetland 12 KM, along with strong performances in several regional events. He now hopes to compete in more certified international races, building his ranking and experience.
As a husband and father, his motivation goes beyond the medal. “My family motivates me every day,” he says. “I want to show them, and every young athlete, that even with little, you can rise.”
He admits there were moments when the struggle nearly broke him. “I was close to quitting,” he shares. “The recognition reminded me to stay focused and keep pushing. It gave me back my belief.”
Ramadhan may still be an underdog, yet his story reflects the heart of grassroots athletics: resilience, discipline, and the power of opportunity. With a passport in hand and new seasons ahead, he is no longer running only toward finish lines, but toward a future with real possibility.
“This is just the beginning,” he says. “I am ready for whatever comes next.”