Former world marathon record holder Tegla Loroupe and refugee athlete Francois Msafiri arrived in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County today, as they continue their gruelling 840-kilometre ultra-marathon from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County to Nairobi’s Uhuru Park.
The seven-day run, which was flagged off on Monday, August 17, is aimed at shining a spotlight on the challenges facing refugees while promoting peace, education, inclusion and opportunities for vulnerable communities across the country.
Loroupe, a peace ambassador, has welcomed President William Ruto’s Ushirika Plan, which seeks to transform the traditional refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab into integrated, urban-style settlements. The plan is intended to promote the socio-economic inclusion of more than 800,000 refugees while improving infrastructure and access to public services for both refugees and host communities.
Loroupe said refugees should no longer be treated as people who must live in isolation, but should instead be integrated into the communities where they reside.
“The Ushirika Plan is working well so that no one should be treated as a refugee who has to live in isolation. Instead, refugees should be accommodated and integrated with other members of the community,” she said.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu, Loroupe also called for peace ahead of next year’s political activities, urging young people, mothers and families to reject violence and avoid being manipulated by politicians.
“If we lacked peace, there would be no country,” she said, urging families to encourage their children and spouses to avoid violence and resist attempts by politicians to divide communities.
Loroupe said Kakuma and Dadaab should ultimately be viewed as municipalities rather than simply refugee camps.
“Both Kakuma and Dadaab should no longer be seen simply as refugee camps, but as municipalities. The Ushirika Plan is intended to prevent isolation and promote integration between refugees and host communities,” she said.
She said the runners had already covered significant distances since leaving Kakuma.
“We started with 150km, yesterday we did 120km, and today we are doing 150km. We shall even be running at night so that we can reach Nairobi early,” she said.
Msafiri said Kenya had been a good host to refugees from his country and many other parts of the world.
“We are running for education, health, food security, peace, and the integration of refugees into the community,” he said.
He said refugees continue to face restrictions and limitations that affect their ability to work and conduct businesses on an equal footing with host communities.
“As refugees, we do not have the same privileges as the host nation. We face limitations, including restrictions on employment and doing business. The Ushirika Plan is good because it promotes integration,” Msafiri said.
He added that greater integration would create opportunities for refugees to participate in both the private and public sectors while benefiting from government protection and support.
Reflecting on the conflict in his home country, Msafiri said many refugees had experienced the trauma of war, including living in forests and hearing gunfire day and night.
“Back home, we normally hear guns day and night, sleeping in the forest, knowing that war is not good. No one should have to experience such suffering,” he said.
As a Peace and Refugee Ambassador, Msafiri called on African leaders to work together to end conflicts across the continent, noting that many of the world’s refugees originate from Africa.
“We need peace, unity and integration. Let us not allow politicians to divide us. Let us protect our communities and build a peaceful future for everyone,” he said.
Loroupe has for years used sport as a vehicle for peacebuilding, education, inclusion and the creation of opportunities for vulnerable populations. The 840-kilometre journey is intended to reinforce that message while drawing national attention to refugee rights, peaceful coexistence and the importance of integrating refugees with their host communities.