Prince Albert of Monaco set to grace Peace Races

Prince Albert II, the ruler of Monaco, will be the chief guest at this year’s Tegla Loroupe Peace Races on November 14 in Kapenguria.

Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation communications officer Kerio Lorot said on Thursday the Prince had accepted the invitation for the race expected to attract 3,000 participants.

Lorot said the Prince would also tour the Peace Academy that is under construction at Siyoi and former warriors’ training camp in Kapenguria, among other TLPF projects.

Prince Albert II was invited by the TLPF founder, renowned athlete Tegla Loroupe, to grace the races when the two met at last month’s World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Alternate annually

Also expected are regulars such as Kenyan ministers Samuel Phogisio and John Munyes and MP Ekwe Ethuro, as well as Ugandan minister Peter Lokeris.

The races, which feature 10km to 5km distances, alternate annually between Uganda and Kenya. They draw contestants from pastoral communities in Karamoja in Uganda and North Rift in Kenya – including the Pokot, Turkana, Sebei, Marakwet and Samburu, and Sabaot, Karamojong and Sabiny.

Over 2,500 participants, including warriors, took part in the sixth edition last year where Vincent Cheruiyot and Jackline Chemwok won the men’s and women’s divisions.

The 16-classroom academy has been under construction since 2006 and is due for completion next February. It will house a primary school that will mainly cater for children rendered vulnerable or orphaned following cattle rustling prevalent in the area.

It will put emphasis on girl-child education, said Lorot.

Prince Albert II is also Global Advisor to the US-based charity, Orphans International.

Victims of conflicts

Born on March 14, 1958, he is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the host of the annual IAAF gala night.

TLPF uses sports to bring peace to the conflict-ridden areas of East Africa, support children who are victims of these conflicts and foster economic development.