All set for regional body building event

Contestants in a past bodybuilding championship. [File]

Kenya's top body builders will go head to head with over 15 foreign musclemen at Saturday's Mr. East Africa bodybuilding championships in Eldoret.

The competition to be held at Rupaz Fun N Fitness Center has attracted 10 Ugandans, five Tanzanians and over 200 Kenyan athletes who will parade on Friday at the same venue for the weigh-in exercise.

"This will be a major event putting into consideration that Sh2 million prize money will be shared among the 12 categories," said the event organiser Robert Wafula.

"The stage is set for this event, which has also attracted musclemen from Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kakamega and Nakuru among other major towns," said Wafula adding that the previous Mr. Kenya title holders will be in action to display their fortitude and muscular superiority.

Wafula said Mr. Eldoret was the last major event to be held in the town in 2010 whose total prize was Sh150,000.

"The event has grown big and we expect all the category and overall winners to go home smiling this time round," said Wafula.

"The competition will be an event of best of the best and champion among champions. We thank the proprietor of Rupaz Fun N Fitness Center Alfred Omondi for his decision to organise and join hands with other sponsors to stage the first East Africa body building competition in Eldoret."

Medihealth Hospital, Credit Bank, Stanbic Bank, Cube Energy, USN and Unga Limited are among the sponsors.

Mombasa's Erick Ogot and Peter Ochino of Mtwapa gymnasium will lead the Coast team to Eldoret.

The 1999 and 2000 Mr. Africa middle weight winner Bokassa Onyango said in Mombasa yesterday that the body building standards have deteriorated due to poor leadership. He hailed the organisers of East Africa for the reviving the sport in a bigger way.