Kasarani open grounds will play host to over 400 athletes who are set to take part in the inaugural Roysambu United Mazingira cross country on Friday October 10th , an event sanctioned by Athletics Kenya (AK) that blends elite competition with a vital community mission.

With registration concluding on Wednesday, October 8th, the race has quickly positioned itself as a key fixture on the athletics calendar.

Organiser Dr. Faith Mwaura confirmed that the cross country is primarily aimed at raising crucial funds to support access to education for underprivileged children and to create critical awareness for environmental conservation through tree planting.

The initiative is a cornerstone of the “Roysambu United community empowerment projects” and is designed to support the government’s ambitious climate action goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, with plans to make the event an annual affair.

The race offers a competitive slate of events, including the 10km senior men’s and women’s races, the 8km and 6km junior categories, and special races for kids and the elderly.

Winners of the 10km senior races will pocket a significant prize of Ksh 40,000, with the first and second runners-up taking Ksh 25,000 and Ksh 15,000, respectively. Junior winners will be rewarded with Ksh 10,000 each, while the community 10km winner gets Ksh 12,000.

Beyond the cash prizes, the event holds significant sporting weight. Athletics Kenya’s Nairobi region office will use the competition to select its representative team for the national cross-country championship set for Eldoret on October 25th.

That national championship serves as the crucial final trial for selecting Kenya’s squad for the prestigious World Cross Country Championships to be held in Tallahassee, United States, next year.