President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed during the 2019 Beyond Zero Marathon that the Kenyan government will fully fund national teams competing in international events, including the Harambee Stars for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The announcement came as the president emphasized support for athletes across disciplines, citing rugby and athletics teams preparing for global competitions. The Harambee Stars, already qualified for the continental tournament, face Ghana in their final Group C qualifier next month.
The marathon featured over 20,000 participants, with former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn flagging off the event. Kenya's First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed were among high-profile attendees.
Josephat Bett and Brilliant Kipkoech won the men's and women's 21-kilometer races, finishing in 1 hour 1 minute 34 seconds and 1 hour 1 minute 48 seconds respectively. The event highlighted government commitment to sports development alongside international competition preparations.
