NOCK Rallies Support for First-Ever Sabaki Estuary Wetsand Marathon to Champion Environmental Conservation

By Ben Okweingoti.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has stepped up preparations for the inaugural Sabaki Estuary Wetsand Marathon, scheduled for November 28, with a series of environmental conservation activities aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution and protecting Kenya's coastal ecosystem.

Former NOCK President and world marathon champion Dr. Paul Tergat led senior sports officials, conservationists, government representatives, and community members in launching the Sabaki Estuary Wetsand Marathon Awareness Walk, the official marathon flag-off, a community clean-up exercise, and a mangrove restoration campaign.

The marathon, organised by the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM), seeks to combine sports with environmental advocacy by promoting the restoration of coastal ecosystems while inspiring collective action against pollution.

The 21-kilometre race will begin at the sand dunes along the golden beaches of Mambrui, where the Sabaki River empties into the Indian Ocean, before stretching to the Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve.

Ahead of the event, hundreds of stakeholders—including conservation groups, hoteliers, business leaders, school children, county and national government officials, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the National Police Service, the Judiciary, Casino Malindi, and local residents—participated in a clean-up exercise from the Malindi Roundabout to Casino Malindi.

The delegation later proceeded to the Sabaki Estuary, where they planted 1,000 mangrove seedlings, cleaned the estuary, and officially flagged off the marathon. The ceremony was led by Dr. Tergat alongside Athletics Kenya Coast Region Secretary and Race Director Felix Ngalla and NOCK First Deputy President Barnaba Korir, who also serves on the Athletics Kenya Executive Committee in charge of Youth Development Programmes.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Tergat described the marathon as a unique initiative that demonstrates how sport can be used to drive environmental conservation.

> "Today, we are not competing for medals or positions. The real competition is ensuring that together with the community we preserve nature by planting mangrove trees and cleaning our beaches. We are not doing this for ourselves but for future generations," he said.

He urged Kenyans to participate in the marathon, saying every participant would emerge a champion by contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Barnaba Korir praised PWAM for conceptualising the event, noting that it would not only nurture athletic talent but also enhance sports tourism along the Kenyan coast.

"This is the kind of initiative the National Olympic Committee of Kenya is keen to support because it promotes sports, develops talent, and boosts tourism in the region," he said.

Race Director Felix Ngalla said preparations had entered the final phase, with organisers intensifying marketing efforts to attract participants from across Kenya and beyond.

He revealed that the marathon offers attractive prize money, with the overall winner set to receive Sh500,000, while the top ten finishers in both the men's and women's categories will also receive cash awards.

PWAM Chairperson Kate Mwikali said the organisation's monthly beach clean-up exercises, which began in 2019, exposed the scale of pollution caused by waste carried into the ocean through the Sabaki River.

She said the marathon was conceived to raise awareness about environmental pollution while encouraging policymakers, communities, and other stakeholders to take greater responsibility in protecting coastal ecosystems.

"The marathon supports the implementation of laws relating to solid waste management by creating awareness and encouraging environmental responsibility," she said.

Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Environment Omar Said and Malindi Municipality Manager Dadu Chome welcomed the partnership with PWAM and other stakeholders, saying the initiative would help educate the public on the importance of environmental conservation.

Malindi High Court Judge Lady Justice Mugure Thande also lauded the initiative, emphasizing the critical role oceans play in sustaining life.

"The ocean is essential because it sustains life. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface, and it is our responsibility as human beings to protect the environment that God has entrusted to us for the benefit of present and future generations," she said.

Organisers hope the inaugural Sabaki Estuary Wetsand Marathon will establish itself as a flagship annual event that combines athletics, tourism, and environmental conservation while drawing national and international attention to the need for sustainable management of Kenya's coastal resources.