The panel will be headed by Moni Wekesa, a professor at the Mount Kenya University Law School in Nairobi. 

Hussein Wario, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Art and Culture, has given the taskforce two months to complete their investigations and present a report. 

The panel has been set-up after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) asked Kenya to investigate after an undercover German television journalist reported that the blood-boosting drug Erythropoietin (EPO) and other doping products, including anabolic steroids, were readily available to local athletes.

"Doping has evolved to become a major threat to global sport, its for this reason that my ministry views these doping allegation as an opportunity for Kenya to put in place a comprehensive programme that will protect our athletes against doping and reserve the spirit of fair play in sports," said Wario when announcing the taskforce.

"Kenyans are under microscope for the good performance internationally, and to maintain credibility, we have to ensure that the anti-doping measures are fully in place.

"We need to ensure intelligent testing is being planted to effectively detect doping and also limit the supply of doping substances."

Kip Keino, arguably Kenya's greatest ever distance and now chairman of the National Olympic Committee, was among those who attended the launch of the new taskforce to investigate claims that top runners have been doping

The launch of the taskforce was attended by Kip Keino, one of the country's greatest ever runners who is now chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, along with representatives from several sports, including athletics, boxing, football, hockey, rugby and volleyball. 

Wekesa's mandate is to probe "the allegations into the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs and substance abuse by Kenyan athletes as claimed by the sections of international and local media," said Wario, who will be part of a Government delegation to travel here tonight to attend the World Conference on Doping in Sport.

It will also "investigate the involvement of person or persons in the administration or the supply of drugs to the athletes" and assess the true extent of doping and the availability of banned substances.

"The task force findings will be baseline for the programme against doping in Kenya."

Since January 2012, 17 Kenyan athletes have tested positive, a raise that has coincided with increased testing both in and out of competition.