Revamp cycling union

Hosting the Africa Road Cycling Championships successfully for the third consecutive time in five counties is a clear manifestation of Kenya’s ability to stage major international events.

Kenya hosted the event for the first time in 2024 with cyclists traversing Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet before Kwale staged the 2025 edition. Kisumu took its turn to organise this year’s event that ends tomorrow having drawn 345 cyclists from 32 nations.

It’s even inspiring after the country claimed its first ever medal in the history of the championships with Mercy Eragae winning bronze medal in women’s junior 68.8km. South Africa’s Madison Bateson won the race with Egyptian Joudy El Sayed settling for silver.

The success of the event has proved that the country has more to offer in the world of sports apart from athletics and football but it’s ironic that it has taken a quarter-a-century to win a medal with Eragae’s exploits.

Things shouldn’t be normal at Kenya Cycling Federation (KCF) with the game’s enthusiasts expecting Eragae’s performance to reawaken the operations at the federation’s secretariat. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and the Sports has done a good job in facilitating the three editions of the continental event with Golazo Sports taking charge to execute the event.

However, KCF has been reduced to the periphery, which is understandable owing to lack of capacity.

The standards of cycling in the country have stagnated over the decades owing to bad leadership that has seen officials stay in office for over three decades.

The country is yet to realise its dream of a major local tour due to bad leadership yet it boasts of active cycling clubs across in Eldoret, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and other regional towns.

KCF must take advantage of the gains made from the continental championships to organise vibrant local circuits.

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