Athletics Kenya (AK) officials are holding talks with Maasai Mara University management with the aim of launching a new marathon event to be sponsored and hosted by the university.
The meeting, taking place at the university in Narok County, seeks to formalize a partnership that will see the institution become a key player in reviving athletics in the South Rift region.
The Athletics Kenya delegation is led by former international athlete Stephen Marai, who also serves as the Kenya Masters Athletics chairman. He was accompanied by AK official Paul Keriako and Kipngeno Chelule, the Bomet County Athletics Kenya representative.
One of the AK officials said the proposed Maasai Mara University Marathon will provide a platform for discovering and nurturing new talent from Narok county.
“This initiative will not only promote sports but also inspire young people to take athletics seriously as a career and a unifying force for communities,” he said.
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The university management pledged to support the initiative, saying it aligns with the institution’s mission to foster community engagement and promote sports tourism.
The AK official noted that the marathon will be included in the national athletics calendar to attract both elite and amateur runners from across Kenya and beyond.
He added that the scenic Maasai Mara landscape offers a perfect backdrop for the event, enhancing the county’s tourism profile.
The official said the collaboration demonstrates AK’s commitment to decentralizing athletics activities and empowering rural regions through sports.
The move also marks a historic revival of major athletics events in Narok County. The last time the county hosted a major race was over 13 years ago, when former 800m world champion Billy Konchellah organized the Mara International Marathon, which attracted runners from across East Africa.
If all plans go through, the inaugural Maasai Mara University Marathon will be staged next year, signaling the return of Narok County to Kenya’s athletics map
By Philip Koech
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