Exactly one month to the prestigious Eldoret City Marathon, race organizers have started receiving cheques in preparations for the second edition of the race set for 21st April 2019.
Today, title sponsor Uasin Gishu County Government presented a kshs. 15 million cheque plus other sponsors to the kit as the prize money is increased.
Led by county chief Jackson Mandago, the amount will attract top world marathoners with kshs 3.5 million for winners prize where they will trickle down to the 20th finisher.
Organisres led by two time Boston marathon champion Moses Tanui as the race director, chaired by Andrew Chelogoi, received a total of kshs 29,000,000.
Total prize money will be kshs.18,030,000 which is will be the most paid marathon in Africa with the winner pocketing kshs 3.5 million.
Mandago while presiding over the cheques said Kenyan marathoners have been missing out their own kingdom by creating one outside their country.
“Kenyan marathoners are kings and queens outside Kenya but once in the country, they lack their own kingdom. We are building a kingdom for them and this race is their kingdom,” said Mandago.
He also received a kshs 5 million from Stanbic, 5 million from Standard Media Group, kshs 3 million from Paramount bank and a million from Eldoret water and Sanitation (Eldowas).
the former Olympic Games 10,000m silver medalist Tanui said: “We started early to ensure that the race is successful on the very day. This dream will have to live on for the rest of our lives,” said Tanui as his Boston marathon winner Ibrahim Hussein presented a certified course.
“With the new Course, each Eldoret resident will enjoy the race,” said Hussein.