American-based professional body-builder William Bonac will be the guest star at this year's Mr Kenya body-building championships.
The event will be held next week at the Louis Leakey Auditorium Museum Hill, in Nairobi.
Kenya Body Building Federation (KBBF) chairman Chris Omedo said yesterday that Bonac had confirmed he would be at the competition that has attracted 400 competitors from Kenyans based in the US, Qatar, Dubai as well as local musclemen.
“Bonac is one of the professional body-builders who has gained a huge following in the sport. He finished fifth position in last year’s Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, US,” said Omedo.
Bonac, born in 1982 in Ghana, is admired for his large legs and arms, as well as his dedication to proper nutrition. It took him close to two decades of strenuous training to reach the 2016 Mr. Olympia stage.
Omedo said deadline for registration is on June 30, while pre-judging is set for July 1 at 10am. The main contest will also be on the same day from 5pm.
The chairman said the reigning Mr Kenya Rashid Issa, 2015 champion Michael Otieno, who lives in the US, would be in contention for the title, among other top body-builders.
“We intend to make the 2017 Mr Kenya one of the best ever. USN Company are the official sponsors and have contributed Sh500,000. The overall winner will pocket Sh100, 000,” said Omedo.
Apart from the overall Mr Kenya contest, Omedo said competitors would also compete in physique, bikini and figure categories.
Meanwhile, Mombasa musclemen are gearing up for the contest, where 10 body-builders have confirmed participation.
The federation’s Coast region coordinator and former Mr Kenya champion Bokassa Onyango said Omosh Gymnasium in Mtwapa has four competitors, while Faiz and Tononoka gymnasiums have three each.
“Mombasa want to reclaim its glory in body-building and we have assembled a well-built and confident team for the event,” said the three-time Mr Kenya champion.
