However, the trio will only be participating in a ceremonial capacity as a morale booster to the thousands who have enlisted for the event.
Over 5,000 athletes have registered to participate in the main 21km race with other categories such as 10km, 5km, 3km and schools relay races scheduled for the day.
Registration exercise closed on September 9th, with individuals paying 500 shillings, schools 2000 shillings and corporate teams 50,000 shillings.
Winners in both the men and women’s 21 kilometers will receive cash rewards of 150,000 Kenya shillings each, while winners in the 10 km race will walk away with 15,000 shillings each.
The prizes will trickle down to the 10th finisher.
2011Ndakaini Half Marathon champions Dennis Mokua and Emily Biwott will be seeking to defend their titles.
The two will be joined by a host of other elite athletes including Commonwealth champion Lucy Kabuu, Japan-based Mary Wangari former Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba and Ernest Kebenei, who will be making his debut in the 10 km race.
UAP Insurance head of marketing and distribution Joseph Kamiri observed that the marathon which was held first in 2004 is credited for unleashing new marathoners into the limelight among them world record holder Patrick Makau, World Marathon champion Abel Kirui and the late Samuel Wanjiru.
The event is geared towards the conservation of Ndakaini dam catchment area and the empowerment of the local community to develop viable social economic enterprises associated with the dam.
The organizers target to raise over 25 million shillings, this being ten Million shillings more than the previous edition which raised Ksh.15 million.
Posted by Geoffrey Wachira
