By Eddah Waithaka
Thirteen young cyclists push through heat, hills and fatigue as they chase KSh 10 million target for education fund
Thirteen young men from Starehe Boys Centre rolled out of Nairobi this morning, resuming their gruelling 1,100-kilometre charity cycling challenge as they embark on the final leg of their journey to Mombasa.
The riders arrived in the capital on Monday after cycling through several counties from Busia. They spent Tuesday recovering at Starehe Boys Centre before returning to the road today, determined to complete the Dr. Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon and raise KSh 10 million for the school’s education fund.
“This is a character-building adventure,” said Ian Hicho, Technical Director, Team Coach and an Old Starehian. “In class, you learn many things theoretically, but on the road, you experience them for yourself. You learn resilience, focus, preparation and what it means to stay on task and keep moving towards a goal. Life is not always a smooth road, and this journey is teaching the boys how to navigate the ups and downs and still make it to the end.”
The team began the challenge a week ago, on Monday 3rd July, and has already faced changing road conditions, heavy traffic, punishing hills, scorching heat and exhaustion. But the riders remain united in their mission.
Hicho revealed the team underwent months of intense physical and mental preparation before the challenge. “You cannot just wake up and ride 1,100 kilometres. The preparation started months ago, with physical training, long-distance rides and mental preparation. We needed the boys to get used to the idea of riding 100 kilometres a day, because on this journey, you have to do it again the next day.”
For Fidel Alfred Odhiambo, a Form Three student and returning Bikeathon participant, the lessons have been deeply personal. “The biggest lessons for me are determination and resilience. There are moments when you feel like giving up, especially when climbing the hills, but you remember why you started and you keep going.”
Team captain Ian Stanley has discovered that leadership extends far beyond the classroom. “Being team captain means making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be, that the bikes are in order and that the team moves together. It has taught me that leadership is not just about being in front; it is about making sure everyone gets to the destination.”
For Grade 10 student Marklus Kazungu, completing the journey safely remains the ultimate prize. “When we reach Mombasa, it will mean that we have achieved the goal we set for ourselves: getting everyone there safely and helping raise funds for Starehe. I want us to finish what we started and make sure the purpose of the Bikeathon continues.”
The Bikeathon honours the legacy of the late Geoffrey Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys Centre and a lifelong champion of education and opportunity for young people. Partners including Vivo Energy Kenya have supported the challenge, providing stopover points, refreshments and logistical assistance through their Shell service station network.
Mark Senteu, Commercial Manager at Vivo Energy Kenya and a former Starehe student, reflected on the partnership’s deeper meaning. “The most important principle running the world we live in today is reciprocity, and the Bikeathon is a great example of partnerships powered by reciprocity. Education and youth empowerment are an important part of our sustainability agenda, and through partnerships like this, we are able to give back to communities while creating shared value beyond our business.”
Emergency response teams from St. John’s Ambulance accompany the riders, providing safety and medical assistance as they traverse the country.
Fred Okono, Director of Starehe Boys’ Centre, views the Bikeathon as both a fundraising initiative and an extension of the school’s holistic approach to education. “We hope they take away three things: the self-esteem and character that comes from taking on a major challenge, a sense of service and self-sacrifice, and the importance of team spirit. You are out there on the road together, not competing against one another, and everyone has a role to play.”
The fundraising campaign remains open to members of the public, friends of Starehe and well-wishers who wish to support the education fund.
For Hicho, the journey carries profound personal significance. “I want to give back to my alma mater and help other young people benefit from the same opportunities I received here. You are because someone was, and I believe it is important to give back and create that opportunity for someone else.”
The riders expect to arrive in Mombasa on Sunday, 16th August, carrying with them not only the ambition of completing 1,100 kilometres but also the hopes of creating greater educational opportunities for future generations of Starehe students.
