Africa-Press – Kenya. Elijah Mbaire has revealed that his bold decision to surge at the 35km mark proved the decisive move that carried him to a hard-fought victory at the fourth edition of the Betika Lukenya 10 Million Trees Marathon staged over the weekend in Kambu, Makueni County.
Locked in a tactical battle deep into the race, Mbaire struck when it mattered most, injecting a brutal change of pace after 35km to thin out the lead pack before unleashing a razor-sharp sprint finish. He stopped the clock at 2:16:44, edging Charles Munyua Njoki by just a second (2:16:45). Dennis Koech sealed the podium in 2:17:00.
Reflecting on the race, Mbaire underlined the significance of that late-race gamble. “I’m very thankful for this win. The race was very competitive, and after the 35km mark, we were still four athletes together.”
“At that point, I decided to go all out and push the pace because I knew the finish would be very tight,” said Mbaire.
In the women’s contest, Agnes Mumbua Ndolo delivered a composed and commanding run to clinch top honours in 2:42:56. Fridah Chepkite Todepa followed in 2:48:33, while Naomi Wambui Muriuki rounded off the podium in 2:49:29.
For their triumphs, Mbaire and Mumbua pocketed Sh500,000 each, as runners-up Munyua and Chepkite earned Sh200,000.
Third-place finishers Wambui and Koech walked away with Sh100,000 apiece, with prize money extending to the top 10 in each category.
The half-marathon races produced equally electric performances.
Zakariah Kirika Gacugu stormed to victory in the men’s race in 1:02:06, holding off Leonard Kiprotich (1:02:21) and Peter Kiprop Rutoh (1:02:38).
In the women’s half-marathon, Betty Chepkiror won in 1:12:02, just a second ahead of Phena Siyoi (1:12:03). Ruth Mwihaki completed the podium in 1:12:25. Betika Group CEO Mutua Mutava reaffirmed the event’s broader vision, highlighting its dual impact on sport and community.
“We strongly believe in the power of sports to transform lives and create opportunities. Our continued support for events such as the Lukenya Marathon reflects our commitment to nurturing local talent while also bringing communities together around positive initiatives,” said Mutava.
