Cycle with Rhino extravaganza attracts over 350

OVER 350 cyclists parade for this year’s Cycle with the Rhino event to be staged at Lake Nakuru National Park on September 15. The one-day championship will feature number of categories including children’s 3km race; junior 35-km race and senior category covering 70km. Deputy Park warden Joseph Dadacha said the funds to be raised in this year’s race will be used to erect a 10-km baboon-proof electric fence at an estimated cost of Sh1.6 million per kilometre.

Dadacha said the organisers are targeting a Sh20m for conservation of the fragile Lake Nakuru National Park and its environs. He said the event has drawn cyclists from as far as Naivasha, Kericho, Rongai, Nyahururu, Nairobi and Kisumu. The event is expected to be graced by Wildlife and Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa and peace ambassador Tegla Lourope.

“Sponsors have already assessed the cycling route as well as visited the baboon-proof electric fence, which was constructed using the funds raised in last year’s cycling race,” said the deputy Park warden. “The event will start at outside Nakuru town’s Standard Chartered Bank through Lake Nakuru, Soysambu Conservancy, back to town and end at the Park,” said Dadacha. The overall winners of the elite and amateur events get Sh20,000, second placed (Sh15,000) and third (Sh10,000).