THE WORLD SAFARI RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURNS TO MERU COUNTY AFTER MANY YEARS
October 24, 2019 Motor 1 comment
Meru Governor H.E. Kiraitu Murungi has this morning officiated over the unveiling of Meru 2019 KCB Safari Rally Championships, which is now part of the World Rally Series, and will be the  first rally event to be held in Meru after 9 years.
The high octane competition will be held from November 9, 2019(next month), and will cover 158km beginning from Nkubu through Kanyakine,Maraa,Kieni Kia Ndege,Kinoro,Gaturi,Ngongo,Mwichiune, then Nkubu through Meru town to Gitoro ASK Showground, then Showground through Kenya Re, to Kibirichia, and then Kibirichia through Ntugi to Kwa Mungania in lower Buuri Sub County.
Kenya’s Safari Rally Contests including the upcoming KCB Meru Edition was readmitted into the World Rally Championships (WRC) series this year by the world governing body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile(FIA) after 18 year break, and the first leg of the circuit is slated to take place on July 16-19, 2020(next year).

Governor Kiraitu and Deputy Governor Ntuchiu takes a ride in one of the rally cars

While unveiling the rally, Governor Kiraitu paid glowing tribute to sons and daughters of Meru who have excelled in the sport, even becoming the lead officials of the Rally Championships at the world level, including the WRC Secretary and former East African winner of Uganda Series, Ms. Hellen Kagendo(who is in charge of this year’s route), Kenya Safari Rally CEO Phineas Kimathi who is also a veteran rally driver, his son Macrea Kimathi who is currently the youngest top driver in the country, Mr. Nkubu Amwari and his son Issa Amwari, Eric Bengi, top female national Safari Rally navigator Ms. Mionki, among others.
“As a County we are truly excited to be chosen as the host and co-sponsors of the Championships with our close partners KCB Bank with whom we have also partnered in many other areas. I also wish to say that as the Governor of Meru I am extremely proud that of the top Rally drivers in Kenya, one third are sons and daughters of this County,” said the Governor.
The Governor also noted that the rally will be another great milestone in his Government’s vision to improve sports and tourism, after the successful Meru 4 by 4 Challenge which led up to Lake Ellis on Mt. Kenya in June, and the upcoming Mt. Kenya Mountain Marathon to be held in February next year, aimed at aiding in ecotourism conservation of the endangered Mountain bongo species and also raising funds for establishment of Meru Cancer Institute and Cancer Center due to the high cancer cases in the County.
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FIRST MOUNTAIN MARATHON COMES TO MERU KENYA IN 2020
October 9, 2019 Sports Comments Off on FIRST MOUNTAIN MARATHON COMES TO MERU KENYA IN 2020

The first mountain marathon in Africa was officially launched at the Kenya School of Adventure & Leadership(KESAL) in Meru County, by the Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.

This marathon is the first of its kind in Kenya will run under the name Mt. Kenya Mountain Running Championship, and is scheduled to take place in 8th, February 2020 *Under the tagline Challenging heights*

Through this initiative funds to support the fight against cancer will be raised for an establishment of Meru Cancer Institute, a research and awareness center, at Meru Level 5 Hospital.

The event also aims to promote local tourism, as well as enhance conservation of environment through other initiatives like planting trees.

Governor Kiraitu Murungi during the Launch

According to the Governor, this is a great opportunity to further exploit the potentials of Mt. Kenya, which has been long since underutilized, for increased revenue to the county. This comes after another recent 4×4 challenge event done in Mt. Kenya through Themwe route courtesy of County Government as well as the Kabeberi Rugby sevens which created a major showcase of Meru as a investment and sports hotspot.

Among the running categories, will be the 12km elites run with a cash prize of Ksh 500,000, a Juniors 6 & 8 Km run, there will also be a race called ‘keep the doctor away’ a 2km run for both men and women, Meru residents, Institutions of higher learning, Masters and Corporate groups runs.

“We hope attract more people within the Country and outside just to come on board and participate or support this worthy course.”

We will be updating you on the registration details and link.

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THE 2019 KABEBERI RUGBY SEVENS SET FOR MERU COUNTY
July 4, 2019 Sports Comments Off on THE 2019 KABEBERI RUGBY SEVENS SET FOR MERU COUNTY

First played in 1999,The National Sevens Circuit is an annual series of  rugby sevens tournaments run by the Kenya Rugby Union in conjunction with host clubs featuring teams from across the country. Teams compete for the National Sevens Circuit title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournament. The season’s circuit currently comprises 6 tournaments in 6 cities and towns across Kenya.

For the first time ever,  the National Sevens Circuit will award prize money. The teams that win a leg of the circuit will pocket Sh500,000 with the runner up going home with Sh200,000 and the third finalist taking 150,000 in the Division One category. In Division 2, champions and runners-up will claim Sh150,000 and Sh50,000 respectively.

Kinoru Stadium, Meru town will host Kabeberi Sevens under Mwamba RFC’s. Kabeberi 7s tournament Director Humphrey Kayange says they settle for Meru since the team has huge support in the area and the region has not witnessed top-flight rugby for a long time. The Kenya 7s legend believes Meru will be an interesting place to have the tournament.

“Meru is an interesting choice of venue. We have huge support in the region and there’s a community hungry for top-class rugby action in the area. We did not hesitate to settle on it as our 2019 venue for this great tournament,” he added.

Mwamba RFC officials met Meru County Governor Kiraitu Murungi a month ago and the County pledged to support the tournament fully.

“We have already met the governor Hon Kiraitu Murungi and he has assured us full support for the tournament. Apart from provision of the stadium, we will work with the county team on other logistics such as accommodation and travel arrangements. We will be making exciting news very soon over the same,” he added.

The team will hold several clinics in the region as part of their Community Social Responsibility initiative in conjunction with their sponsors Stanbic. This investment in the tournament is aligned to the continuous pursuit of promoting a homegrown agenda through people and rugby.

“We will have rugby clinics with at least eight schools in the region. Our ladies team will also conduct a clinic with the sole girls school in the region that plays rugby. We hope to inspire a new generation of rugby players from Meru region,”  Mwamba Director of Rugby Edwin Waita said.

Kabeberi will be the second leg of the 2019 7s Circuit.

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