Cyclists during a previous event/ HANDOUTJackline Wairimu says the Kenya Cycling Federation have put in place all necessary measures to select a strong Team Kenya ahead of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu from October 21-25.
The federation will hold its national selection event this weekend in Kabati, Murang’a County, as cyclists will battle for places in the team that will represent Kenya at the continental championships.
The trials will feature elite men’s and women’s races over 85km and 65km respectively, as well as the Under-23 men’s 85km and women’s 65km races. Youth (boys and girls) will compete over 35km, while junior boys and girls will race over 40km.
Wairimu, who is the organiser of the trials, said the federation will select the top 10 riders in each category to form the national team. “We will be selecting the top 10 from each category, from the elite to the junior races, who will form our team for the African championships,” she said.
She added that the trials would be open to all cyclists across the country, allowing riders to fight for national team places. “The selection event is open and free to all cyclists in the country who want to participate,” she said.
Wairimu said preparations for the trials were complete, with organisers also conducting a reconnaissance of the course ahead of the races. “We have made all necessary preparations and we are more than ready to host the selection races,” she said.
“We have already done recce of the course in preparation for race day to ensure everything runs smoothly.” Safety will also be a major priority, with the organisers working with local authorities and traffic police to protect riders during the races.
“We have been working closely with the county government as well as traffic police to ensure the safety of the riders during race day,” she said. The Kisumu championships will be Kenya’s third consecutive staging of the continental road cycling showpiece, following editions held in Eldoret in 2024 and Kwale County in 2025.
The five-day championships will begin on October 21 with the Individual Time Trial, followed by the mixed relay and youth races. The junior races will be held on day three, while day four will feature a mass fun/social ride before the women’s elite and U23 races.
The championships will conclude on October 25 with the elite men’s and U23 races. Kenya first hosted the championships in 2024 in Eldoret, where Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan won the elite men’s race in 3:46:21, while South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio claimed the women’s title in 3:07:50.
In 2025, Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus won the elite men’s race in Kwale in 3:53:06, while South Africa’s Hayley Preen took the women’s title in 3:10:31.
