All set for the Nandi Road Race

Under the theme "Efforts to support Green economy and enhancing resilience to climate change risks", this year's event has received a Ksh 3 million boost from Mozzart Bet.

The race's primary objective is environmental conservation and restoration of the county's shrinking water towers and wetlands.

"The theme of the race has always been in line with Mozzart’s mission to make Kenya a better to place for the communities. The forest cover in Nandi is 24% and the intention is to push it to 50% to supplement government efforts of having 10% forest cover countrywide," offered Country Manager Sasa Krneta as he announced the Ksh 3 million sponsorship.

In line with this year's theme, a tree-planting exercise will precede the race on Saturday 2 July. This event brings together all the tea estates in Nandi County for a stakeholder’s engagement and the tree planting exercise.

Each of the participating athletes will also be provided with tree seedlings to plant as part of measures to mitigate climate change. This is through an initiative themed "Nandi Forest Cover Champions".

"Mozzart has spent over Ksh 100 million so far in supporting community projects. We are undertaking the 100 wells for the Kenyan communities’ project and have so far dug eight boreholes in various counties in Kenya. We also continue to support sports teams with equipment all over the country.

We have also donated crucial equipment to hospitals especially at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic but the most important thing for us is making the country a better place for all of us to live in and enjoy," added Krneta.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson Hosea Sanga says the event attracted 550 male and 230 female athletes drawn from across the country, adding that more are expected to show interest with an intended increase in prize money from Ksh 80,000 to Ksh 100,000 if an increase in sponsorship is realised.

"We have seen tremendous growth since the inception of this race. The impact on the community has also been immense since we launched the tree planting exercise. We also use the registration fees from athletes to buy and distribute sanitary towels to schools around the community where that race takes place," offered Sanga.

Hosea says registration is set to open in the coming week. The race will be flagged off from Nandi Forest, Kapsasur on Kisumu Road and at Namgoi Primary School.

Last year, experienced long-distance athletes Nancy Jelagat and Emmanuel Bor conquered the hilly course to be crowned champions of the 12th edition in Kapsabet.

Jelagat who won the 2019 Family Bank Half Marathon clocked 31.30 to storm to victory ahead of Daisy Jerotich who timed 31.38 while Naomi Chepng'eno completed the podium places in 32.31.

Bor, finished meters ahead of closest competitor Daniel Kiprotich in 28.21 as the latter bagged silver in 28.39. Victor Rotich was third in 28.42.

Jelagat, Bor romp to victory in Re-discover Nandi Road Race

Among notable winners of the event since its inception in 2006 is World Championships bronze medalist at the 2017 and 2019 events in 10,000m, the late Agnes Tirop who won the 2018 edition of the race. Others include 2012 World Half Marathon bronze medalist Paskalia Chepkorir.