Preparations for the first edition half marathon in honour of the first Vision 2030 director and third Nyeri governor Dr Wahome Gakuru are almost complete.
The late Gakuru perished in a grisly road accident along the Kenol- Nairobi highway barely three months after assuming office.
In a press briefing in Nyeri town yesterday, Nyeri County minister in charge of Education and Sports Margret Macharia said Dr Gakuru was instrumental in leading Vision 2030 and anchoring his three pillars of development, transparency and accountability in the Nyeri County.
The edition to be held coming Sunday, November 11 at Ruring’u stadium is aimed at tapping the local youth potential in athletics and raise funds to construct an emergency response ward at the County Referral Hospital in memory of the late leader.
Macharia invited all Kenyans to participate in the event that has attracted renowned athletes like gold medalist Charles Kamathi, Margret Nyairera, Catherine Ndereba among others.
“The winner of the 21km race will take home Sh 250,000, second position Sh 100.000 and third position Sh 50,000 among other prizes,” Macharia said.
The event is being sponsored by several financial institutions like Cooperative Bank and National Bank among other support groups.
She underscored the need for the youths to participate in sports adding that “you can make a life out of athletics”.
Speaking during the same occasion, Athletics Kenya Nyeri branch secretary Daniel Gachara, and a former athlete who is leading the technical team assured participants of adequate security along the routes.
Gachara said the event has been organized in line with the guidelines and regulations of Athletics Kenya to meet the required standards.
Registration to participate is going for Sh 1,000 and is being done in the five sub-counties through electronic cash transactions and the minister urged participants to refrain from giving cash.