By Faith Anene, Kakamega
Standard Chartered Bank launched the Kakamega Satellite Run at Masinde Muliro University grounds, part of the lead-up to the highly anticipated Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, set to take place on October 27th.
The Kakamega event drew over 160 participants, featuring a 5km family run and a 10km race. The satellite run was designed to give running enthusiasts in Kakamega, who might not be able to travel to Nairobi, a chance to participate in the country’s largest single-day sporting event.
The event combined fitness, competition, and community interaction, promoting both physical well-being and local engagement.
Addressing the participants, Joan Okello, head of Standard Chartered Bank’s branches expressed delight at the increasing number of registered participants each year. Okello highlighted the event’s growth, noting that they started with 1000 participants and have now reached 25000 registrants.
“The Standard Chartered Marathon began a long time ago with around 1,000 runners. Today, I am thrilled to announce that we have over 25,000 runners signed up for this year’s event, showing tremendous support for our ‘Futuremakers’ campaign. Last year, we had around 21,400 participants, and we expect that number to increase this year. We want to sincerely thank everyone who joined today’s race; your participation is making a difference in the community,” Okello said.
She also encouraged participants to take part in the main marathon in Nairobi, saying, “We look forward to welcoming those who can make it to Nairobi on October 27th.”
Mercy Malel, the warm-up coach for the Kisumu and Kakamega teams, praised the initiative and encouraged citizens to embrace it for its benefits not only to physical fitness but also as a platform for training athletes, particularly in the 5km, 10km, and 21km races.
“This marathon is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in running. It provides a platform to train and learn, whether you’re just starting with 5km or aiming for the 21km race. We are pleased to kick off the Kakamega Satellite Marathon, which is part of the larger Standard Chartered Marathon on October 27th,” she said.
Tanui Gedione Kibet, who won the 21km race in Kakamega, praised the event and expressed optimism about participating in the Nairobi Marathon.
“I want to thank Standard Chartered for organizing this race. The weather was perfect today, and this is my first time participating in Masinde Muliro. I’ve been training, and I’m excited to be part of the Nairobi Marathon next week,” he said.
Musundi Caren, a member of the Kakamega Cycling Club and participant in the satellite run, also thanked Standard Chartered Marathon for organizing the event, highlighting the benefits of fitness and community.
“I feel privileged to be part of this run. I appreciate Standard Chartered for the work they’re doing in promoting fitness and bringing people together. I encourage everyone to join the next event in Mombasa and the final run in Nairobi on October 27th,” she added.
The Kakamega run was the second of three satellite events ahead of the main Nairobi marathon. The first satellite event took place the previous weekend, where Vincent Ouma secured victory in the men’s 10km race. The final satellite race will be held on October 21st in Mombasa.
Now in its 21st edition, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has garnered the support of over 40 sponsors, raising a total of Ksh173 million. To date, more than 24,900 runners have registered for this year’s event.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon aims to be an inclusive platform that promotes mass participation in sports, enhances health and well-being, and fosters community engagement, local economic development, and a sense of accomplishment among participants.
