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The 11th edition of Nandi Road Race has received a boost after leading gaming firm Mozzart pumped in Sh3 million into this year’s event set to be held on 27th June at the athletics-rich Kapsabet town in Nandi County.

Themed ‘Preservation and Conservation of water towers and wetlands for the sustainable water resources’, the race’s primary objective is environmental conservation and restoration of the county’s shrinking water towers and wetlands.

Registration for the event opened yesterday with the organizers expecting a respectable entry list given the long layoff occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among notable winners of the event since its inception in 2006 is World Championships bronze medalist at the 2017 and 2019 events in 10,000m Agnes Tirop who won the 2018 edition of the race.

Others include 2012 World Half Marathon bronze medalist Paskalia Chepkorir.

“In the history of this race, we believe this will be the best event we have hosted.

Athletes are eager to race after a long layoff due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we believe the turn up for the main event, the 10km men and women’s race will be good,” said Hosea Sanga, the Athletics Kenya Vice Chairperson, Nandi County during the event’s launch in Nairobi.

In addition to the competitive 10km races, a 2km fun race has been organized aimed at having the community in Nandi County be part of the event which will be preceded by a tree-planting exercise in line with the theme of the race this year. 

“As Mozzart, we are happy to sponsor this noble event and the theme of this year’s race which is preserving our water catchment areas, is in line with our focus to provide clean water for use by Kenyans even in the most remote villages,” Sanga said.

“Preserving the environment especially the water catchment areas is a crucial step in ensuring Kenyans can have access to clean water for use,” Mozzart Country Manager Saša Krneta said. 

Mozzart has an ongoing program known as “100 wells for our communities” whose purpose is to dig new water points across the country that will provide clean water for citizens. So far the leading betting firm has drilled five wells and are looking to add more.