Valentine's Day - Hundreds of Mombasa residents walk 19km to celebrate love

Love was literally and figuratively poured into the streets of Mombasa as over 1,000 residents participated in a 19km walk to celebrate this year's Valentine's Day.

The young, old and youth thronged to the street to participate in the walk was organized by the Mombasa Walk Movement (MWM). The MWM walks have also been replicated along the beaches in Kwale and Kilifi counties

Ms. Grace Mjumbe and Moses Mjumbe, a couple in love, were among the many participants who marked the day with this vibrant and healthy activity.

"We are happy to mark this day by ensuring we give our health a priority. We started this journey together and now that we are aging we are happy to do it this way," said Mr Moses.

The Mombasa Walk Movement, a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting healthy living through walking, orchestrated the event.

Major (Rtd) Idris Abdirahman, the founder and Chairman of MWM, expressed that the walk aimed to celebrate love while encouraging people to lead healthier lives.

The Bonje Valentine Challenge, organized by MWM, saw overwhelming participation from women, constituting 64.9 percent of the 1,000 registered participants, with men at 35.1 percent.

The age distribution showcased a diverse range, with the majority falling between 41 - 50 years, closely followed by those in the age group of 31 - 35 years.

Remarkably, even the older age group of 61 years and above actively participated, reflecting the inclusive nature of the event.

Some of MWM partners and Sponsors for the event included Absa Bank, Kenya Maritime Authority(KMA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Premium Energy, Aga Khan Hospital, Mikindani Hospital, DairyLand and Kitui Flour Millers (KFM).

Mr. Idris emphasized the vision of fostering a healthier, walkable nation, expressing confidence that MWM will inspire individuals and communities to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.

Mombasa Walk Movement is a community-based organization that unites residents of Mombasa County, promoting a healthy lifestyle through weekly walks of 15 to 20 kilometers. The movement is subdivided into 8 clusters across the county, engaging in daily morning and evening walks.

To date, MWM has covered an impressive 734.5 kilometers in 49 walk editions, with plans to surpass the 1000 km mark by the end of the year. The organization has played a crucial role in conducting medical camps and breast cancer screenings, with the last screening held at Premier Hospital on October 21, 2023, witnessing over 90 participants.

Major Idris expressed gratitude to the community for their continuous support throughout the journey, acknowledging sponsors whose contributions made the event fruitful.

Fathiya Noordean, the Regional Manager of Absa Bank Mombasa, highlighted Absa's commitment to environmental sustainability and expressed interest in discussing potential partnerships with MWM.

"Good health is good for all; we must all come out to support this initiative," stated Fathiya Noordean.