Nairobi County and UN- Habitat partner with Sotokoto to promote peace

By Erick Ochieng’

Nairobi, Kenya: The United Nations (UN) Habitat and Nairobi County have partnered with the Sotokoto Safari Half Marathon to promote peace and security in the Kenyan capital.

The decade long security partnership between Nairobi City and the UN-Habitat was renewed in Nairobi yesterday and was sealed   by the inclusion of Sotokoto Safari Half marathon as a potential partner.

The valuable partnership was sealed by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Joan Clos and Sotokoto Founder Douglas Wakiihuri.

The 2013 edition of the marathon will be used by the tripartite as a platform to drive home the Safer Nairobi Initiative and the UN Habitat World Cities Forum under the slogan dubbed I’m a City Changer.

Loved by many

Wakiihuri said the marathon is being used to drive the initiative home since sport is a global event loved by many people.

“We want to prove to the rest of the world that Nairobi is a safe place to run in, this is part of the reasons as to why Sotokoto has accepted to work with our partners,” said Wakiihuri.

“Foreigners need to feel they are safe in our capital especially the international elite athletes who jet in to participate in various races.”

Kidero, in his address, acknowledged that the Safer Nairobi Initiative is meant to enhance partnerships between national, regional and county governments.

“Nothing can be more important than us working together. A safer city is always a panacea of a booming economy and a better quality of life,” said Kidero.

Continued support

Clos assured that the UN will continue to support Nairobi County in a bid to create and maintain peace and at the same time do the needful to aid Sotokoto achieve the new role of creating security within the capital.

Meanwhile, Geofrey Mutai and Denis Kimetto are currently polishing their spikes and will be leading a stellar field of 500 athletes in the elite category of the marathon that so far has received a Sh2 million boost from hotel and catering firm, San Valencia and another Sh1 million boost from the East African Cables (EAC).

Wakiihuri told FeverPitch the official registration unveiled last month for the fourth edition this year where over 7,000 athletes are targeted in the 5km, 10km and the 21km categories is proceeding on smoothly.

Sotokoto officials a fortnight ago requested their doping partners in South Africa to reduce the time taken by the firm to release doping results from two months to two weeks to help them pay athletes their prizes promptly.