Nairobi half marathon celebrates environment

The 21-km half-marathon taking place in Nairobi on 24 February will celebrate the Kenyan capital's global role as the home of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The race will see Kenyan former world champion marathon runners Catherine Ndereba and Tegla Loroupe rub shoulders with the country’s current top long-distance runners as well as members of the public, UN staff and the city’s diplomatic community.

The race begins at 09.30 at the Kenya Technical Teachers’ College in Gigiri, and there is also a 7.5-kilometre family fun run at 08.45. The winner of the half-marathon receives 150,000 shillings, while second and third place win 100,000 and 75,000 respectively.

To register online see the UNEP website while it is also possible to register in person at Athletics Kenya, Nairobi, and athletics camps in the North Rift such as Kaptagat, Kapsabet, Eldoret, Iten, Nyahururu, Kisii, Kericho, Bomet and Machakos.

Last year the UN voted to “strengthen and upgrade” the UNEP and increase its annual governing council from a membership of 58 nations to a universal membership of more than 190 member states. The UNEP is active in advising countries and sporting federations in how to incorporate environmental considerations into major sporting events.