Twenty-eight refugees from Kakuma Refugee Camp are set to run 840 kilometres from Kakuma, Turkana County to Nairobi in a week-long charity ultra marathon aimed at raising support for refugee education, health and sustainable development.
The Tegla Loroupe Ultra Marathon “Run for Hope” will take place from August 17 to 23, 2026, with participants running to Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
The initiative is being spearheaded by world marathon champion and Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation founder Tegla Loroupe, alongside refugee ambassador Msafiri Francois.
Running under the theme “Running for Humanity: Empowering Refugees Through Education and Sustainable Development,” the campaign seeks to mobilise resources for refugee communities facing challenges including food shortages, limited access to education, unemployment and psychosocial distress.
Funds raised will support food and nutrition programmes, scholarships and school materials for refugee children and youth, as well as mental health and psychosocial support initiatives.
The organisers also hope the run will promote peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities and draw greater attention to the needs of displaced populations.
“Every kilometre of this run is a step toward hope, dignity and opportunity for refugees,” Loroupe said, adding that sport can help unite communities and create opportunities for education and a sustainable future.
The Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, a Kenya-based peacebuilding and sports-for-development organisation, uses sport to promote peace and empower refugees and marginalised communities across East Africa and beyond.
