Elgeyo Marakwet banks on marathon as Baringo to revamp goat auction

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich has announced plans by his administration to host an annual international marathon in Iten.

Mr Rotich said the county will host an inaugural event in December as a marketing strategy, tap the rich athletic talent and also market potential economic opportunities in the region.

Speaking in his office when The Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu paid him a courtesy call yesterday, Mr Rotich noted that most counties in the North Rift region have lagged behind since the inception of devolution due to a lack of good publicity on existing economic advantages.

The governor said he will prioritise sports tourism that will turn the county into a hub for sports personalities both local and foreign and turn Iten town into a leading sports tourism destination. Rotich said he will partner with the leading media outlet to create awareness of the only tourism reserve at Rimoi in Kerio valley.

"We have a fast-growing Rimoi game reserve recently restocked with three giraffes and a host of elephants,'' said Rotich adding that the reserve has not effectively attracted tourists due to untold stories about its ideals.

Rotich is also looking keenly at championing agribusiness by promoting high value crops including pyrethrum, BT cotton, tea and promoting dairy farming.

"Elgeyo Marakwet is under three ecological zones - highland, escarpment and the valley where different high value crops are produced.

The governor said the level of poverty in Elgeyo Marakwet is still high, a move he said, he will push to ensure every household have at least half an acre cash crop farm to boost their earnings and improve living standards. Rotich said a world class marathon in December, will help give Iten, a town christened home of champions, an international outlook.

Climate action and climate mitigation and insecurity have been bedeviling development across the county, especially in parts of Kerio Valley, he noted.

Rotich lauded the role played by The Standard team in the North Rift region pointing out that its publicity, it has helped in informing, educating and entertaining locals through their diverse media platforms.

"You are doing an incredible job in our counties, your work is being felt across to the local people through your entire media platforms," he said.

In Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi outlined four key issue-based areas including Agribusiness for value addition and re-engineering the famous Kimalel goat auction, sports, education, and climate change.

In the health sector, the governor said he will give priority to championing preventive and promotive health as a cornerstone for development.

"We need to focus on what people can do to stay healthy, informing people on what, how, and when to eat, for good health services and ease the burden of medications," he said.

In education, Cheboi said Technical institutions which are under county governments are key solutions to unemployment.

"We have been importing technical skilled labour to fix our needs including plumbing, masonry, electricians instead of tapping from our own TVETS and VTCs institutions," he said.

Mr Lyomu said The Standard Group will partner with counties to provide opportunities through its media outlets. He said The Standard Group with the rich and experience of organising and broadcasting the Eldoret city marathon, is in a position to partner, organise and run the upcoming Iten Marathon.

"We truly have experience in sports and more so in marathons and as a Group, we will partner with you and will give our best," he said in Iten.

He said sports is a fast income-generating activity and if given priority, it will help solve and eradicate youth unemployment.