Belgut Half Marathon Attracts Athletics Stars as over 5,000 Athletes Race for Education
By Josphat Kebut | NAIROBI,
Belgut MP Nelson Koech, popularly known as Sonko, has reiterated his vision of using sports to promote education and transform the lives of needy but bright students in his constituency.
Speaking on Kass TV during the Kass Lenee Emet Show, Koech called on well-wishers to support the Belgut Half Marathon, set for Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Kericho County.
Koech said this year’s race aims to raise funds to keep bright but needy students in school, including learners at Starehe Boys’ Centre in Waldai and Starehe Girls’ Centre in Kapsuser, as well as other vulnerable students across Belgut.
He said the initiative was born out of the growing demand for education support, noting that the constituency’s annual KSh60 million bursary allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of students in secondary schools, colleges and universities.
Koech said he initially relied on the CDF kitty to support education, with communities helping identify deserving students. The marathon was later established as an additional avenue to mobilise resources for education.
“It is more than a run; it is a movement to support needy, orphaned and vulnerable children through education.”
More than 5,000 runners are expected to participate in this year’s event, which features a 21km half marathon, 10km race and 5km community fun run.
The 21km winner will take home KSh500,000, while the 10km champion will pocket KSh100,000.
A star-studded field is expected, with athletes including Sandra Felis Chebet, Diana Chekemoi, Miriam Chebet, Edwin Bett, Leonard Barsoton and Kyumbe Munguti set to compete.
The event is also expected to attract some of Kenya’s leading athletics personalities, including Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, Sheila Chepkurui, Timothy Cheruiyot, Mercy Cherono and Ferguson Rotich.
Against the backdrop of Kericho’s iconic tea plantations, the Belgut Half Marathon seeks to combine athletics, community participation and education fundraisingg therefore turning every stride into an investment in a child’s future.
