President Uhuru makes running debut
President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday launched his running career at the fifth edition of the Beyond Zero half marathon that ended at the Nyayo National stadium.
The Head of State led other dignitaries to cover roughly 2.5km before a commemorative embrace by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at the finish line.
Clad in blue jeans, white T-shirt and black sneakers, the President was sandwiched between Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, his Machakos counterpart Alfred Mutua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to support the First Lady, the brains behind the Beyond Zero half marathon.
His presence was in line with State House’s commitment to continue supporting the advocacy around nine critical health areas affecting Kenyans.
“The intervention areas include zero maternal deaths, zero child deaths, a healthy lifestyle for the elderly, zero new HIV infections and zero child marriages,” State House wrote on its Twitter page.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, accompanied by her counterparts Mutahi Kagwe (Health) and Betty Maina (Trade) as well as Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang (Education), Karanja Kibicho (Interior), Francis Owino (Industrialisation) and Charles Sunkuli (Devolution) also participated.
The event saw a heavy traffic snarl-up after several roads were closed. They included Mombasa Road, Lusaka, Aerodrome, Bunyala, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, University Way and Waiyaki Way.
The marathon, in its fifth year, is aimed at raising funds for the Beyond Zero campaign, initiated by the First Lady to raise money for maternal health among expectant mothers in Kenya.
Other causes that the event seeks to achieve is zero female genital mutilation (FGM), early screening for cancer, inclusion of persons with disabilities and better nutrition for all children.
Unlike the previous editions, the turnout from participants and spectators was relatively low this year.
