The 2013 New York City marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai and former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir will grace the Chemususu Dam half marathon on Saturday in Baringo.
The duo will spice up proceedings at the event where 3,000 athletes have so far registered to run.
Elite athletes are also expected to confirm their particpation by tomorrow.
There will be six race caregories on the day. They include the half marathon, 10km , Corporate race (10K), children’s race (5km) adults (5km) and students (7km)
The half marathon winner will pocket Sh150,000 with the runners up going home Sh60,000 richer. Third place will be worth Sh35,000.
In the ten kilomete race the winner will pocket Sh50,000 with the runner up taking home Sh30,000. Third place earns Sh20,000.
The winner in the students race will pocket Sh12,000 and the runner up Sh10,000. The third place finisher will take Sh8,000.
The event received a shot in the arm yesterday with various sponsors forking out Sh2.5 million.
Title sponsor Rift Valley Water Board Services gave out Sh1million while Karen Roses and Water Trust Services gave Sh500,000 each . The Rural Electrification board donated Sh250,000 with Equity Bank giving Sh200,000. The National Hospuital Insurance fund (Sh150,000) and Amarco Insurance (Sh100,000) were the other donors.
Member of Parliament for Eldama Ravine where the race will take place, Moses Lesonet, has urged athletes to turn up in large numbers for the race because it is sponsoring a worthy cause.
“This event is sponsoring a worthy cause, the improvement and enhancing of the dam’s water capacity. I am asking athletes from the region to turn up in large numbers and make this event a success” he added.
Baringo North Member of Parliament William Cheptumo said being the second year, the event is expected to grow to become world class.
“The numbers are growing and in the near future we expect to be one of the top athletics event events in the region,” Cheptumo said.
The race seeks to raise Sh20m for, among other things, the conservation of water catchment areas around the Chemususu Dam, construction of Uzalendo School - which will cater for free education for students from poor families, establishment of a police post, erection of a perimeter wall around the Dam and construction of an information centre.