Zimpapers Logo

Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter

HAVING arrived in the City of Kings and Queens last week on his educational awareness campaign, Kenyan marathon cyclist Otieno Wakake is set to return to Bulawayo in April next year through his sponsors.
The Kenyan cyclist, who fell in love with Bulawayo on his first visit will ride from the Cradle of Humankind once again through the same route, which is from his native land to Tanzania then Zambia, and finally Zimbabwe.

Entrusting his bicycle to ride throughout the continent, his goal remains the same as he hopes to raise funds for underprivileged learners to attend school. Part of the journey also includes preserving a dying culture that is cycling which has been ignored for the longest time.

Otieno Wakake in Bulawayo

“We are looking forward to raising funds for underprivileged children in Africa and creating a cycling tradition for a sport that has long been ignored,” said one of the organisers, Martin Maseko.
With Wakake’s first-ever arrival in Bulawayo having not been well marketed, Maseko said they are hoping to raise awareness early for the upcoming event as they are also looking at establishing a culture between the three nations.

“We want to create a tradition between Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya. This time we want to create awareness months before the event. We are looking at spreading awareness through radio and TV. Workshops will be set up through various NGOs including the main sponsor which will be Afro Rhythms,’’ Maseko said.

The endeavour will be a third for Wakake, who last year embarked on a similar journey from Malindi, Kenya to Durban, South Africa where he rode to raise school fees for underprivileged children in his native country, same as his recent event. His goal was to raise Ksh 1, 3 million for 18 underprivileged children to attend school.

In next year’s event, Wakake is expected to come in with more cyclists from other nations and musicians so that a traditional festival draws the trip to an end. Other local cyclists are also expected to take part.

“This time he will be coming with more cyclists and musicians so that the trip ends with a cultural festival of some sort. We are thinking of making it a race from Centenary to Matopos. Cyclists will include Bulawayo cyclists and others from different nations,” said Maseko.

Having organised Wakake’s first trip to Bulawayo, Maseko said it was awesome, however, if they can manage to make it an annual event, it would mean a lot to them.

Otieno Wakake

“It’s overwhelming but if we can achieve having this as an annual event bringing in cyclists from all over the continent. That alone will be the most satisfying achievement,” said Maseko.

Through Adventure Cycling Kenya, Wakake embarks on an annual cycling adventure that raises funds for a charitable cause, and throughout his journey, he is sustained by donations and support from various companies, cycling associations as well as the Kenyan Diaspora associations. — @brandon_malvin