First Lady cancels marathon in the wake of political uproar
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has cancelled the fourth edition of the First Lady’s Half Marathon that was scheduled for March 12 in Nairobi.
In a statement released on Saturday, the First Lady noted that she had canceled the annual marathon since she did not want to politicize it.
“I was preparing to celebrate with Kenyans to say thank you for running with me and for supporting Beyond Zero. You have all made a huge difference to the lives of thousands of women, men and children, in our great nation. However, I have never been willing to politicize this agenda. As a consequence I feel it necessary to cancel the First Lady’s Half Marathon this year,” her statement read part.
In the last four years that the marathon has been organised, money raised has been used to purchase 47 fully equipped mobile clinics through the Beyond Zero initiative.
HEALTH CRISIS
However, Mrs Kenyatta reaffirmed her commitment to the betterment of maternal healthcare in Kenya, and, to build the Beyond Zero Referral Hospital.
The cancellation of the half marathon comes after Kenyans on social media requested the First Lady to cancel the half marathon due to the ongoing doctors’ strike.
Last week, Nation columnist Njoki Chege also penned a passionate appeal to the First Lady to cancel this year’s edition of the marathon and instead use her position and influence to help solve the current health crisis in the country.
Even with this year’s edition of the marathon cancelled, the First Lady made an assurance to Kenyans that her commitment to the noble course remains unchanged.
