Our Story
Empowering Kenya's athletes through education and opportunity
Who We Are
Landson Foundation is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Mosoriot, Nandi County, Kenya. Founded by Kenyan-Australian scholar and social scientist Alfred Koech Sergent, we operate at the intersection of athletic talent development and educational empowerment.
We function as a sophisticated mechanism for converting the region's abundant "physiological capital"—its world-renowned distance running talent—into durable "intellectual capital" through the facilitation of international scholarships and the provision of critical training infrastructure.
Our operational model is built on the belief that every talented athlete deserves the opportunity to pursue both their sporting dreams and academic excellence. We bridge the gap between athletic potential and educational opportunity, providing comprehensive support through scholarships, mentorship, and training programs.
The Source of Champions
Nandi County in Kenya's Rift Valley is known as the "Source of Champions." This small region has produced more world-class distance runners than any other place on Earth. The combination of high altitude, cultural heritage that values endurance, and a socio-economic environment where running is seen as a viable path creates a fiercely competitive environment.
However, for every athlete who secures a professional contract, thousands are left behind with limited education and few economic prospects. Landson Foundation addresses this athlete's trap by integrating education into athletic development, creating well-rounded champions who excel in both arenas. Just like Eliud Kipchoge—who is not only a world-class runner but also highly educated and articulate—our athletes are empowered to achieve excellence on the track and in the classroom, ensuring lifelong success and professional opportunities in all fields.
Our Commitment
Our index to empowering Kenya's athletes through education
Identify & Nurture
To identify young athletes with exceptional potential and nurture their talents through comprehensive support systems that balance athletics and academics.
Educate & Empower
To provide access to quality education through scholarships and resources, ensuring no talented athlete has to choose between their passion and their future.
Transform & Inspire
To transform lives by creating pathways to success both on and off the track, inspiring future generations to pursue excellence in all areas of life.
Identify & Nurture
To identify young athletes with exceptional potential and nurture their talents through comprehensive support systems that balance athletics and academics.
Educate & Empower
To provide access to quality education through scholarships and resources, ensuring no talented athlete has to choose between their passion and their future.
Transform & Inspire
To transform lives by creating pathways to success both on and off the track, inspiring future generations to pursue excellence in all areas of life.
The Founder's Journey
Alfred Koech Sergent grew up in the hills of Nandi County, pursuing professional athletics like many young men in the region. When his athletic career didn't lead to lucrative podium finishes on the European circuit, he made a crucial pivot: using athletics as a means rather than an end.
Koech leveraged his athletic background to secure opportunities for further studies in Australia, eventually becoming a social scientist and scholar based in Perth, Western Australia. This transition—from "athletics for income" to "athletics for education"—became the core philosophy of the Landson Foundation.
In 2018, Alfred founded the Landson Foundation to institutionalize this "Plan B," ensuring that talented runners can become successful professionals through the educational pathway. As a diaspora philanthropist, he bridges the resource-rich Australian sports sector with the talent-rich but resource-poor Nandi ecosystem.
Watch Our Story
See how we're transforming lives in Nandi County
Our Core Values
The principles that guide our work in Mosoriot and beyond
Excellence
We strive for the highest standards in everything we do, from athlete development to educational support
Integrity
We operate with transparency, honesty, and accountability in all our programs and partnerships
Empowerment
We believe in empowering athletes to take control of their futures through education and opportunity
Community
We are deeply rooted in Nandi County, working hand-in-hand with local communities to create lasting change
Excellence
We strive for the highest standards in everything we do, from athlete development to educational support
Integrity
We operate with transparency, honesty, and accountability in all our programs and partnerships
Empowerment
We believe in empowering athletes to take control of their futures through education and opportunity
Community
We are deeply rooted in Nandi County, working hand-in-hand with local communities to create lasting change