Over 5,000 runners are expected to grace this year’s Roysambu United Open Cross Country run which will be held at Moi,Kasarani Stadium on Mazingira Day,October 10th 2025. The race organized by community base organization Roysambu United seeks to plant a total of 5,000 tree seedlings as well as raise funds fro the education off needy children in the society.
The raised funds is targeting the needy students from from Kasarani,Roysambu, Githurai and surrounding neighborhoods with Roysambu being singled out as an area with a high number of drop outs.
According to the chairperson of Roysambu United, an organization largely made up of women,Dr Faith Macharia they came up with the idea of the cross country to promote the organisation’s outreach programme in Roysambu area and settled for the race at Kasarani Stadium as a catchment area for tapping young runners and encouraging senior members of the community.
“The purpose of the Cross Country is to raise funds for our key pillars and make an impactful contribution to our community through various monthly engagements tailored for local youth, women’s groups, and public schools within the Roysambu area,” said Faith.
“The theme is Environmental Sustainability, which aims to bring together over 5,000 people to promote Conservation of Nature. Environmental Awareness in the community, as well as youth engagement,” she said, adding that they will plant 5000 trees under their Miti Millioni initiative which has planted over one million trees in Roysambu especially in schools since 2016.
“We have been planting trees since 2016, and not just trees but fruits especially avocados. So we want to now encourage athletes and the running community to focus on fruits for economic and environmental sustainability. Fruits are good for athletes and cover’’.
Athletics Kenya Vice President and Director of Competition Paul Mutwii said it was encouraging to see women come up with the idea of hosting a cross country race in Nairobi.
“Cross country running is a low risk area of competition health wise and is good to all ages compared to road running which is not good for the young and old people who are subjected to pounding hard surfaces” said Mutwii.
Apart from the Chepsaita and Discovery Kenya cross country races in Turbo and Eldoret, cross country races are exclusively organised by Athletics Kenya before major competitions.
“It is encouraging to see that we have people and especially women who are willing to come out and join us in athletics development at the grass root level,” said Mutwii.
