Kenya’s unique forest cycling challenge returns with bigger cause

With the twin goals of forest restoration and community empowerment, the race has quickly grown into a national spectacle, attracting both professional and recreational cyclists from across the country and beyond.

The Challenge was launched under the banner of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme in 2024. The programme is a unique community-led initiative that blends sport, conservation, and economic sustainability for forest-adjacent communities.

The race is one of the activities in the lead-up to the 9th Annual Kaptagat Forest Tree Growing and Livelihoods event, scheduled for July 12 at Simotwo High School in Elgeyo Marakwet County. 

“As we gear up for the 9th Edition, cyclists will ride for forests this Saturday,” said Dr Chris Kiptoo, Principal Secretary at The National Treasury and Patron of the Community-led programme. “This is more than a race,  it is an opportunity to earn from the sport while planting trees and nurturing talent in one of Kenya’s unique high-altitude ecosystems.”

The inaugural Kaptagat Cycling Challenge held in 2024 was a major success, setting the pace for what has now become an annual event. Ugandan cyclist Lawrence Lorot stole the show, clocking a remarkable time of 1:37:02, narrowly edging out Kenya’s Geoffrey Lagat of the Black Mambas (1:37:17). Uganda’s Olympic qualifier Charles Kagimu, part of the INEOS Eliud Kipchoge Cycling Academy, placed third at 1:39:27.

In the elite women’s category, Berber Kramer of Zuzu Bike Shop and Mile Aid led the pack with a time of 1:53:30, followed closely by Grace Kaviro (2:01:00) and Monica Jelimo (2:01:02).

This year’s edition will feature eight competitive categories and a Ksh.2 million prize pool, underscoring the organisers’ commitment to supporting athletes and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

“This race presents a special opportunity for cycling in the Kaptagat area. When we organised the first event in 2021, there was almost no cycling here. Now, four years later, young men and women from Kaptagat are representing Kenya and competing overseas,” said Ciarán Fitzpatrick, Race Director, Kaptagat Cycling Challenge. 

Since its inception, the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme has restored over 2,737 hectares of degraded forest land, distributed 300,000 fruit tree seedlings, supported 35 households with improved dairy breeds, and created more than 2,000 green jobs. Forest-adjacent communities have also benefited from improved water infrastructure and access to clean biogas energy.

“This is what we call an economy powered by forest conservation,” Dr Kiptoo emphasised. “By working together with partners, including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, county governments, UNDP, WWF-Kenya, Community Forest Associations, and the private sector, we are transforming landscapes and transforming lives.”

As the cyclists gear up for the big race this weekend, the wheels of change continue to spin in Kaptagat, proving that sports can drive sustainability, and forests can fuel economic resilience.