Boniface Mweresa’s story begins in the lush, rolling hills of Matongo Village, Nyamira County, Kenya, where he was born in a humble family of four children—three boys and one girl.
Boniface is the last born. Sports run in the Mweresa family: his father played football and ran, while his mother was actively involved in school drama festivals. His elder brother was a footballer for Stima Football Club in Nyanza while still a student at Kamois Teachers College. It was his elder brother who introduced Boniface to running, by gifting him the spikes, “This will take you somewhere. Take them.” Boniface fondly recalls those words as the spark for his journey.
Boniface started his education at Matongo Primary School and later transferred to Riomooria Primary School in Nyamira, where he completed his primary education. During his early years, he was more interested in football but occasionally tried running. Football remained his favorite sport at the time.
In 2008, while in Form One at Matongo Boys Secondary School, he attempted to join the school decathlon team but was not given a chance. However, fate intervened during the second term when Mweresa won all the races he participated in—100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m—during school competitions. This performance earned him a spot in the school team that went to the Provincial Schools Competitions at Gusii Stadium. Although he was selected to compete in the 400m hurdles, he was disqualified for a false start.
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The following year, Mweresa began to take running seriously. The school’s deputy headmaster, Mr. Elly Ombasa, saw potential in him and discouraged him from playing football. “Any time he saw me playing football, he would even punish me,” Mweresa recalls.
In Form Three, Mweresa’s talent began to shine. He qualified for the East Africa School Games held in Mombasa, competing in the 200m and 400m. He finished fifth in the 200m finals and reached the 400m semifinals. One of his proudest moments was helping Nyanza beat Rift Valley in the 4x400m relay at the national level before the East Africa Games.
Later, financial constraints forced Mweresa to transfer to Nyamira Technical School, which was more affordable. “I came from a humble background, but I thank God my parents stood with me during my early running days,” he says. At Nyamira Technical, he received unwavering support from Mr. Gilbert Omariba, who provided him with training shoes and opportunities to train with experienced athletes. These efforts paid off, and Mweresa qualified for another East Africa School Games, this time held at Kinoru Stadium in Meru while he was in Form Four.
At the Meru Games, Mweresa won the 200m finals in 21.62 seconds and finished second in the 400m with a time of 47.03 seconds. This marked his breakthrough as he caught the attention of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruiters. Mr. Sammy Macharia facilitated his entry into the KDF sports team, sending him to their training camp in Nyeri and later to the Recruit Training College (RTC) in Eldoret for official military training.
“My brother Duke Mweresa, who used to run 100m and 200m, is one of my role models,” says Boniface. “Mr. Elly Ombasa and Mr. Mulamula laid the foundation for my running career, and I’m grateful to my employer, KDF, for their continued support and for allowing me to work with my coach, Peter Don Gatana.”
Boniface is married and has one daughter, who he says is a source of motivation. “She loves accompanying me to the training ground whenever she’s not in school. I think she’ll be a great sportsperson in the future, and I’ll be there to guide her,” he says with his signature laugh.
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In 2011, Mweresa faced a significant challenge when he suffered tendon injuries in both legs. This nearly ended his career, but with the support of Sammy Macharia and physiotherapy at Nyeri Main Hospital, he recovered. His comeback began in 2012 during the KDF Championships at Kasarani, where he competed in the 400m and finished behind winner Alphas Kishoyan. This performance earned him his first international event, the Penn Relays in the USA. Though he didn’t compete, the experience boosted his confidence.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
In 2018, Mweresa faced a setback when he tested positive for a banned substance during the KDF Championships in Nairobi. He was handed a two-year ban. Reflecting on the incident, he says, “At the Commonwealth Games, I noticed a supplement used by many athletes from developed countries. Back home, I saw a similar product at a shopping mall and bought it out of ignorance. I accept my mistake and have learned the importance of running clean.”
During the ban, Mweresa faced isolation but credits his wife and family for their unwavering support. “My wife stood by me and assured me everything would be fine. I truly love her, and my family in Kisii was there for me. Their support helped me heal and come back stronger.”
Personal Bests and Achievements
Mweresa has achieved impressive personal bests in sprints:
- 4x400m relay: 3:00.34 (Brazzaville, 2015)
- 400m: 44.96 (Birmingham, GBR, 2022)
- 200m: 20.76 (Gaborone, Botswana, 2023)
- 100m: 10.37 (Ulinzi Complex, Nairobi, 2023)
- 4x400m relay: 3:06.71 (Glasgow, GBR, 2024)
Major Achievements
- 2015 All Africa Games (Brazzaville): Gold in 4x400m relay, Silver in 400m
- 2016 African Championships (Durban): Silver in 4x400m relay
- 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham): 44.96 in 400m
- 2023 World Championships (Budapest): Member of Team Kenya’s 4x400m relay
- 2024 Paris Olympic Games: Helped Team Kenya finish 12th in the 4x400m relay
Life Beyond Athletics
Outside training and competition, Mweresa enjoys playing PlayStation games, pool, and taking road trips with his family. As he prepares for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, he remains focused on achieving more milestones and inspiring the next generation of athletes
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