Lewa Safari Marathon: Over 15000 Athletes Expected In 2025 Showpiece
From left: Gao Fei – CEO Huawei Kenya, Dr.Peter Ndegwa – CEO at Safaricom, Sarah Watson – Chief Conservation officer at Tusk and John Kinoti – Chief programmes and partnerships officer at Lewa during the 25th edition of the Lewa Safari Marathon launches at Safaricom Headquarters -Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi. PHOTO/ COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya- Over 15000 athletes are expected in the Lewa Safari Marathon slated for Lewa Conservancy in Isiolo County on June 28, 2025.
The race makes a return after it was cancelled last year due to Gen Zs protests that rocked the nation.
Still expected to defend their positions this season are John Mitei and Mercy Kwambai who triumphed in the 2023 edition.
The champions will expect some stiff challenge from 2022 winners Peter Wahome and Fridah Chepkite Lodepa who are very thirsty to reclaim their titles.
The 43-year-old Lodepa, who was mentored into athletics by marathon legend Tegla Loroupe, has been a permanent fixture in the Lewa Safari Marathon race for over a decade. She has used part of the marathon proceeds to empower herself by purchasing pieces of land, paying school fees for her children and investing in livestocks.
Apart from the marathon, other categories to be contested include the 5km kids race, the 10km men and women challenge and the 21km men and women showdown.
The organisers of the race are still hopeful to raise USD1 million (Sh140 million) which was targeted last season before the race was rocked by the Gen Z protests, leading to the cancellation.
The money raised this season will be used to support conservation efforts across Kenya.
Mobile services providers Safaricom and Huawei Kenya on Wednesday supported the race to a total tune of Sh25 million in Nairobi.
“We are happy to be part of this race, athletes are our best ambassadors and athletics is among the hordes of discipline that we are glad to be supporting,” Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa told Standard Sports.
He added: “Since the very beginning, Safaricom has been an integral partner of the Lewa Safari Marathon, demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of our environment and ecosystem. The marathon provides a platform for us to showcase the impact of past, current, and future technologies driven by the Safaricom brand in contributing to the development and creation of sustainable initiatives in the Lewa Landscape.
“We take pride in our 25-year involvement in the marathon, as it has not only offered sparks of inspiration but also provided solutions to thousands of Kenyans, enabling them to shine and transform their dreams into reality.”
Huawei Kenya CEO Gao Fei noted this about their partnership in the race: “We are so honoured to be on board for the past 17 years as this race has made life changing investments in education, conservations, health among others.
Since its inception in 2000, the marathon has raised over USD 9 million (Sh1.3 billion) in support of conservation and community initiatives throughout Kenya.
Over USD 4 million (Sh558 Million) have been invested in the direct protection of endangered species, other wildlife and their habitats.
Since2000, more than 25,000 runners from over 40 countries have participated in the race.
