Governor Bii Reaffirms Commitment to Clean Sport as Eldoret City Marathon Sets April 2027 Date
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has reaffirmed the county’s commitment to promoting clean sport, describing the Eldoret City Marathon as a key platform for nurturing talent, creating opportunities for young people and boosting sports tourism.
Speaking during the prize-giving ceremony after the seventh edition of the race, Governor Bii hailed the athletes for competing fairly and upholding the values that have made Kenya a global athletics powerhouse.
“We celebrate discipline and determination. We reaffirm our commitment to clean sport, and I commend all the athletes for embracing fair competition,” said the governor.
Bii noted that the marathon has grown into one of Kenya’s premier road races, attracting elite athletes from across the world while generating economic opportunities for businesses in Eldoret through increased tourism.
The governor also announced that the next edition of the Eldoret City Marathon will be held on April 11, 2027, expressing confidence that the event will continue to grow in stature and attract even more international participants.
The champions of the 2026 Eldoret City Marathon (held on April 26) were Koech Cheruiyot was timed 2.12.53 in the men’s category and Dorrine Chesang(Ugandan) clocked 2.3026 in the women’s category. Both winners earned KES 3.5 million each as part of the event’s top prize.
Race Director Moses Tanui said the marathon remains committed to protecting the integrity of athletics by ensuring all winners undergo mandatory anti-doping tests.
Tanui revealed that this year’s event offered a total prize purse of Sh18 million, making it one of the richest road races in Africa.
“We want this marathon to outlive us, just like the Boston Marathon where I competed and won twice. We hope next year’s edition will be bigger and better,” said Tanui.
He confirmed that all the top 20 finishers had been subjected to anti-doping tests, with the winners cleared after the screening process.
“We want a clean sport. We want to encourage young athletes to compete clean. Doping is a menace in this country and we must stop it,” he added.
Tanui emphasized that the marathon’s strict anti-doping measures are aimed at safeguarding Kenya’s reputation as a leading athletics nation while inspiring upcoming runners to achieve success through hard work and honesty.
The Eldoret City Marathon has steadily established itself as one of the country’s leading road races, attracting elite athletes from Kenya and abroad while providing a platform for emerging talent.
