Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has today announced a KES 2 million sponsorship for the 10th Edition of the Isaiah Kiplagat Ndalat Gaa Cross Country Championships to be held in Nandi County on 13th October 2018.
The race, founded by the former long-serving Athletics Kenya Chairman, the Late Isaiah Kiplagat, has become a major stepping stone for Kenyan athletes since it was launched.
“Our history with this event dates back to the year 2008, when we sponsored the inaugural race to the tune of KES 300,000. Since then the event has grown significantly from the 200 athletes who participated eight years ago to over 3,000”, said Charles Kare, Acting Director – Consumer Business, Safaricom.
Over the last decade, Safaricom has invested close to KES 1 Billion in various athletics events. In the last three years, the Telco has consolidated these events under the Safaricom Athletics Series banner.
Some of the acclaimed athletes who have benefitted from the Series include; Prisca Jeptoo, Abraham Kiptum, Agnes Tirop, Conseslus Kipruto and Cyprian Kotut
Over 3,500 athletes are expected in this year’s race which marks the beginning of the Cross Country season. Some of the categories include the 8KM senior races, 6KM and 8KM Junior races and 2KM veteran’s event.
Other upcoming races in the Safaricom Athletics Series include the Madoka Half Marathon, 1st Deaf Youth Championships, Imenti South Road Race and Kisumu Town Marathon, which will wind up this year’s edition in December.
Safaricom has indeed transformed lives. Providing voice, data, financial services and enterprise solutions for a range of subscribers, small businesses and government, using a variety of platforms has made it the most sought after telecommunication industry in Kenya.
With over Sh200 Billion annual revenues in excess, it has heavily invested in Corporate Social Responsibility to transform communities and impact positively on their lives with its diversifies products and services to them.