200 youth participate in first Isiolo peace race

What you need to know:

  • The marathon came ahead of the second county government anniversary which will be held in Merti Town on Friday.
  • The winners of the race were rewarded with goats by Governor Doyo at Isiolo Stadium.
  • The chairman of the organising committee Mr Yussuf Huka said all local communities were involved in the marathon that started at 8am.
  • The race saw Gichibi finish in 34 minutes and was awarded 10 goats with Felix Lekichi who took the second position getting nine goats.

Youth from communities living in Isiolo Wednesday participated in a peace race whose aim was to promote harmonious co-existence.

The marathon came ahead of the second county government anniversary which will be held in Merti Town on Friday.

Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo flagged off the 10 kilometre race dubbed the ‘Isiolo Warriors Peace Marathon 2015’ that attracted 200 participants from Biliko, Ngaremara, Kom and Oldonyiro who only recently never saw eye to eye.

The race organised by the county government, Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and World Vision aimed at bringing communities together for development and promotion of peaceful co-existence.

While the Samburu, Meru, Borana, Turkana and Somalis have lived together with almost 90 per cent of the five communities practicing pastoralism, cases of conflicts among them have been reported.

Participants in the race dubbed the ‘Isiolo Warriors Peace Marathon 2015’ that attracted 200 participants. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP

REWARDED WITH GOATS

The winners of the race were rewarded with goats by Governor Doyo at Isiolo Stadium.

Mr Doyo said his government was keen on ensuring all the communities understood the importance of peace for the benefit of the county’s development.

“This is our first peace marathon. We are celebrating the prevailing peace that has returned to our county which was previously rocked by skirmishes,” Mr Doyo said.

The chairman of the organising committee Mr Yussuf Huka said all local communities were involved in the marathon that started at 8am.

Only men participated in the first Isiolo peace race held on March 25, 2015. Abeod Gichibi won the race. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP

MEN ONLY

Only men were involved in the race.

“We want to commemorate our second year with style. We want to engage our warriors in peace building among our communities,” he said.

Abeod Gichibi beat a field of 200 runners to be the overall winner of the peace race.

The race saw Gichibi finish in 34 minutes and was awarded 10 goats with Felix Lekichi who took the second position getting nine goats.

“This was my easiest victory. I did not expect to win the race and get the 10 goats,” Gichibi said.

The race started at Kiwanja in Ngaremara Ward and ended at Isiolo Stadium.

County officials and security personnel also attended the marathon.