NAIROBI, Kenya, February 24 – Over 15,000 participants are expected to participate in the second First Lady’s Half Marathon that will run March 8 at Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens.
The move comes even as Her Excellency First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, the event patron, and her team intensify training at Lornah Kiplagat tartan track in Iten ahead of the contest.
Athletics Kenya Vice President in charge of competitions David Okeyo said registration will close on Friday to enable organizers work on other logistics like start list and issuing of running numbers.
“There shall be an Expo February 27 to March 6 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre where distribution of running numbers will be done,” Okeyo said.
Nairobi County Traffic Police boss Musyoki Mutungi, on Tuesday announced the affected roads in the city, especially along the designated race course, which will be closed or have diversions between 1am and 1pm on the competition day.
“Motorists from Mombasa heading to the city centre and other parts of the country through Mombasa road and Uhuru highway will be diverted at enterprise road /Mombasa Road junction. They will access CBD through either enterprise road or Mombasa road wrong side which will be used as a single carriage way.
“At Lusaka roundabout, motorists from Mombasa will be diverted to access their various destinations via either city stadium through Lusaka road or Haile Selassie Avenue roundabout through Bunyala roundabout wrong side,” said Mutungi.
Ngong Road bound motorists will be diverted at Haile Selassie round about to access City Mortuary roundabout through Kenyatta Avenue / Uhuru Highway (Nyayo House) roundabout.
Motorists from Ngong road intending to access CBD and other parts through Mbagathi way will be diverted at the City Mortuary roundabout to use Valley road, Kenyatta Avenue and Mbagathi way wrong side.
Mombasa Road shall remain closed from Enterprise Road up to Lusaka Road as well as Lang’ata Road roundabout.
This year’s event will feature a wheelchair race for the physically disabled as a new component of the marathon.
The winner of the 21 km race for both men and women will take home Kshs 750,000 (USD 8,205) with the runners-up pocketing Kshs 500,000 (USD5,470) and third-placed will receive Kshs 250,000 (USD 2,735).
Preparations for the Marathon are in earnest with registration ongoing at Ksh 1,500 (USD16.4) for individual participants and Kshs 100,000 (USD1,094) for corporate participants of between five and ten individuals.
