More than 500 participants gathered at Karura Forest on Saturday for the third edition of the Safaricom CEO Run, an event aimed at supporting fundraising efforts for Lewa Conservancy ahead of the Lewa Safari Marathon later this month.
Emmanuel Ng’eno and Mbesa Kalondu emerged as the overall winners in the men’s and women’s 21km half-marathon categories respectively.
Ng’eno claimed victory in the men’s race after clocking 1:24:47, finishing ahead of Khamza Ahmed, who posted a time of 1:40:59, and Antony Mwasaru, who completed the race in 1:50:02.
In the women’s category, Kalondu crossed the finish line in 2:08:11 to secure the title. Shashu Damaris finished a close second in 2:08:15, while Zion Versity came third with a time of 2:09:35.
“This is a special win for me, especially as it was my first time participating in the Safaricom CEO Run. While the course was challenging, it was rewarding to be part of an event that brings people together in support of a meaningful cause. I commend Safaricom for championing conservation through sport, and I hope more corporates will embrace such initiatives that create a lasting impact,” said Ng’eno.
The event, organised by Safaricom in partnership with Tusk, attracted participants from running communities and corporate teams, including representatives from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Huawei, Amref and KCB.
Participants competed across four categories: the 21km half marathon, 15km race, 10km race and a 5km fun walk, allowing runners and fitness enthusiasts of different abilities to take part.
In the 15km race, Adam Ahmed and Violet Okoti took top honours in the men’s and women’s categories after recording times of 1:08:29 and 1:34:36 respectively.
In the 10km race, Joshua Mucha and Hudlyn Hagoi emerged victorious with times of 40:27 and 1:02:51 respectively. Joe Mwaniki and Mikhala Barasa won the men’s and women’s 5km races.
Florence Nyokabi, Group Chief People Officer at Safaricom PLC, praised the turnout and the continued support for the initiative.
“Today’s event was a great success, with more than 500 participants taking part. This is our third year hosting the race at Karura Forest, and I would like to thank all our staff, partners and friends who turned out in large numbers to support this noble cause. The positive impact we have witnessed over the years continues to inspire us to strengthen our commitment to conservation and community development,” said Florence Nyokabi, Group Chief People Officer at Safaricom PLC.
The annual Safaricom CEO Run serves as a build-up to the Lewa Safari Marathon and helps raise funds for conservation and community development programmes at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
John Kinoti, Chief Programmes and Partnerships Officer at Lewa Conservancy, said the event continues to play a key role in supporting conservation efforts and building momentum towards the main marathon.
“This event serves to help create momentum for the Lewa Safari Marathon while at the same time showcasing the effects of conservation activities. We appreciate Safaricom and all those who have been supporting this project over the past few years. Preparations are almost done as we wait to host more than 1,400 athletes at Lewa on June 27,” said Kinoti.
The event also saw the Lions of Lewa making an appearance, a team that represents Safaricom’s effort in raising funds through participation in the Lewa Safari Marathon towards the conservation and development of wildlife communities.
Safaricom has supported the Lewa Safari Marathon since its inception. Earlier this year, the telecommunications company announced a KES 10 million contribution towards the 26th edition of the marathon, reinforcing its support for conservation and community development initiatives.
The 2026 Lewa Safari Marathon is scheduled for June 27 at Lewa Conservancy in Isiolo County and is expected to attract 1,500 participants competing in the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race and 5km children’s race.