The second, Sh10 million Nakuru City Half Marathon was launched with fanfare on Tuesday, with newly-elected Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika promising to make it larger and more successful than last year's inaugural event.

This year's run, which will take place on November 27, is special because it will take place a day before the cosmopolitan city celebrates its first anniversary as a city.

The marathon is also intended to highlight Nakuru's rich tourism attraction sites, such as the Menengai Crater, Lake Nakuru, and Hyrax Hills, among others, and it will be a boon to hotel owners, with nearly 3,000 participants expected, up from 2,000 last year.

The main event will be a 21-kilometer race starting at Midlands Hotel and taking runners to Milimani Estate, Showground where they will enjoy the scenic Lake Nakuru view as they descend from Nakuru Golf Club and head to West Road via Pivot Hotel and Kariba Street before passing through Oginga Odinga Road to end at the Rift Valley Sports Club.

The 10km race will begin and end at the Rift Valley Sports Club, taking runners through Kimalel Street, Afraha Stadium, Section 58, and back to the city center.

The most important agenda

The five-kilometer race will begin and end at the same location, passing through Oginga Odinga, Mburu Gichua Road, and Afraha Stadium.

Kihika couldn't hide her delight as the county hosted its first sporting event under her leadership.

"Sports is one of my top priorities in my administration, and this is my first opportunity to show that my government is fully behind the marathon and wants to make it bigger and better," Kihika said.

"My administration is eager to elevate the Nakuru City Marathon to the level of Berlin, London, and Boston, among many others."

The winner of the 21km race will receive Sh500,000, runners-up Sh250,000, and third winner Sh100,000, while the winner of the 10km race will receive Sh100,000, runners-up Sh75,000, and third winner Sh50,000.