This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
On a rainy morning, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge kicked off the 2020 Beyond Zero Half Marathon at State House in Nairobi on December 3, 2019.
As part of the launch, Kipchoge took the First Lady through some morning exercise around the lush State House grounds.
Later, Kipchoge and the First Lady joined other invited guests for the race launch and luncheon in the dome at State House garden.
Other notable guests included Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohammed and Margaret Kobia, Senator Beth Mugo, and opposition leader Raila Odinga's wife, Ida.
During the event, the First Lady announced that they aim to raise Sh250 million and attract 25,000 participants in the 2020 race, which will start and end at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Registration for the event is ongoing at Sh2,000, with various races including 10km, 5km, 21km wheelchair and tricycle races, as well as races for visually impaired and 2km walk for expectant mothers.
Participants can choose to support one of nine courses when registering on the Beyond Zero website, including early cancer screening, zero child deaths, and healthy lifestyle for the elderly.
At the launch, the First Lady highlighted the impact of the Beyond Zero initiative, which was launched in 2014, in reducing maternal, newborn, and child deaths, as well as ending new HIV infections among children.
She also expressed concern over the increasing number of cancer cases and adolescents contracting HIV-Aids.
As part of the initiative, the First Lady announced that the number of scholarships being awarded to nurses will be increased from 100 to 200 next year.
World Marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge hailed the First Lady's initiative, saying it resonates well with his message of no human being limited.
