The future of the Lake Olbolosat half marathon, whose second edition was held over the weekend in Nyandarua, looks uncertain after rivalry between two county departments dogged the planning of the event for the second time.

Being an athletics event, the race is expected to be organised by the County Department of Youth Affairs, Sports and Innovation, currently headed by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Mungai Kiongo.

But for the second year, that department has been excluded, and the event is organised by the Department of Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change under CECM Wachira Mugo.

“This is the only marathon event in the Central Kenya region because all the others, like Ndakaini Dam, have died. Let us support and own this event,” Mugo said during the training for the event’s volunteers at the Equator Catholic hall a day before the race.

The rivalry between the two departments played out during one of the organising committee meetings for this year’s edition when sports department staff were thrown out, according to sources.

To end the rivalry, nominated MCA Patience Manga, who is a member of the Youth and Sports committee at the Nyandarua County assembly, says the event should be handled by the Department of Youth and Sports.

“AK (Athletics Kenya) should write a petition to the assembly so that the County is compelled to hand over the race to the Sports department,” Manga said, adding that she is ready to push the issue through when it is received at the assembly.The06

Nyandarua AK branch, which is supposed to offer technical support, was caught off guard by this year’s edition as the event was hurriedly held two months earlier than the date indicated in the federation’s calendar of events.

This was blamed for the low turnout of runners, with the half marathon attracting less than 100 athletes.

Many corporate sponsors of the first edition were absent this year.

Due to the dwindling number of athletes, Nyandarua AK chairman Francis Kamau proposes that the event be turned into a cross-country competition and be run at the shores of Lake Olbolosat.

Kamau says this will have a better impact in raising awareness on the need to conserve the Lake.