The Chepsaita Great Cross Country, organized by Farouk Kibet, an aide to President William Ruto, is set to take place on 7 December 2024 at Chepkemel Secondary School in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County.
This year’s event, themed “Run for Education,” focuses on raising funds to support the schooling of children from underprivileged backgrounds. Farouk Kibet explained that the initiative aims to discover young athletes while offering scholarships to help improve their education.
Kibet stated that over 1,000 students from 10 schools would benefit from scholarships valued at Ksh. 10,000 each. These funds will be paid directly to the schools to assist students in achieving their academic goals. Altogether, the scholarships amount to Ksh. 10 million.
Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and three-time Olympic 1,500m winner Faith Kipyegon are among the notable figures expected to attend the event. Kipchoge highlighted his commitment to the cause, saying the initiative underlines the transformative power of education.
As a Gold-label event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, the competition has drawn participants from over 15 countries, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Qatar, and the United States. Proceeds from the event will be used to renovate Chepsaita Secondary School, along with supporting other community projects.