Kakamega county hosted a Satellite Run at Masinde Muliro University on Friday as a preamble for the Sunday's Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon at the Uhuru Gardens..
The race was flagged off by the Vice Chancellor Masinde Muliro University Professor Solomon Shibairo. The Kakamega Satellite Run served as a build-up for the 19th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
In 2021, Masinde Muliro University hosted over 400 runners for the Standard Chartered Marathon Virtual Run. This was the first time in the marathon’s history the run was hosted outside Nairobi.
This year, the university hosted over 500 runners , who covered a 5km run. The event was followed by a tree planting exercise on the university grounds.
Last year, the marathon planted over 11,000 tree seedlings through its 'A Tree Per Runner' initiative. This year, they are hoping to increase the number to at least 15,000 trees.
Commenting on the Kakamega Satellite Run, StanChart Marathon Local Organising Committee chairman, Peter Gitau said, “As a bank, we remain key to ensure our marathons are open and inclusive."
"Through this, we are best placed to promote community engagement, civic engagement, and local economic development.
"The satellite runs, therefore, provides runners across Kenya with an opportunity to participate in the marathon.
"We are grateful to the Masinde Muliro University and Kakamega County for their support towards the marathon,” he said.
Gitau said all marathon proceeds will go towards the Future Makers initiative.
"We are working with disadvantaged young people – especially girls and persons with disabilities to gain new skills and expertise to improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business,"Gitau said
Future Makers empowers the next generation to learn, earn and grow by focusing on education, employability and entrepreneurship.
