Jonathan Bii Lists 3 Projects William Ruto Secured for Eldoret During his China Visit
Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii has revealed that Eldoret city is set to benefit from three major infrastructural projects.
The financing of the projects are part of the deals Kenya secured during the recent President William Ruto’s state visit to China.
According to Chelilim, the projects include the Eldoret Eastern Bypass.
Designs for the bypass which will be the second for the Eldoret city are already complete.
Other projects to be funded by the Chinese government in Eldoret include the dualing of the road from Cheplasgei to Maili Tida and Mosoriot–Moiben Junction–University of Eldoret (Kuinet)–Marura Centre road.
“These transformative projects will ease transport, decongest Eldoret City, boost trade, and unlock more potential for our farmers. Tunasema Asante!” the county boss said.
Kenya signed 20 trade agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with China.
State House said the agreements and MoUs entails major Public-Private Partnerships (PPS) is several sectors including infrastructure, roads and ICT.
China remains Kenya’s key partner and Ruto’s recent visit further deepens their cooperation that spans for several decades.
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Kipchumba Murkomen to Hold Security Meeting In Kerio Valley
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is set to hold a high-level security meeting in Kerio Valley on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The meeting is part of the ongoing government’s efforts to consolidate peace in the volatile region.
According to Murkomen’s communication team, the meeting which will be held at the Chesongoch Sisters Facility in Elgeyo Marakwet County, will bring together top security and National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) drawn from Marakwet East, Baringo West, Tiaty, Kerio Valley, and Pokot Central sub-counties.
Has Operation Maliza Uhalifu been successful?
It comes as Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU) — a multi-agency security operation launched in 2023 to flush out bandits and address emerging crimes in the North Rift — continues to register significant progress.
During the recent commissioning of OMU’s second command center in Kirimon, Laikipia County, CS Murkomen noted that the first phase of the operation had restored economic activities, and reopened schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure across the the vast region.
The new Kirimon command center is part of the government’s recent efforts to intensify the crackdown on bandits. It complements the first one in Chemolingot and covers Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo, and parts of Meru.
The Kerio Valley meeting also follows successful Jukwaa La Usalama security and service delivery forums in the Coast and Lower Eastern regions.
What will Murkomen’s Kerio Valley meeting focus on?
A key focus of the Kerio Valley meeting will be the ongoing reforms in the National Police Reservists (NPR) program, particularly the establishment of a clearer command structure, revetting, improved welfare and kitting as well as a comprehensive retraining program.
The government is keen to ensure NPRs operate under a streamlined chain of command and are equipped to better support the National Police Service and NGAOs in insecurity-prone areas.
Another reform on the table is the licensing of Chiefs to own firearms in security-risk areas — a proposal that the Interior CS has strongly championed. Chiefs who have undergone paramilitary training, and whose security is demonstrably at risk, are set to be licensed to possess firearms.
The CS has also been pushing broader administrative reforms, including a promotion and reward scheme, better remuneration, and improved kitting for police officers, chiefs and their assistants.
“The end beneficiaries of all these security reforms are wananchi who will be able to go about their businesses and take their children to school undisturbed,” he said.
Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary is expected to push for closer collaboration with Members of Parliament to leverage the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) for the construction and equipping of NGAO offices.
This initiative aims to bring government services closer to locals, especially in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.
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Eliud Kipchoge Speaks after Finishing 6th in London Marathon
Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge has broken his silence after a dismal performance at the 2025 TCS London Marathon.
Kipchoge, making a return to the global stage after numerous bad performances finished a distant sixth in a race that was won by compatriot Sebastian Sawe.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, hours after the race, Kipchoge said despite the disappointing position, he remains motivated.
He also dropped a hint that he was not retiring anytime soon.
“In sport, as in life, not every attempt turns into victory, but each one brings meaning,” Kipchoge said.
“I leave London motivated, happy, and hungry for what comes next. Thank you for all your cheers on the course. This race and these fans have the biggest place in my heart,” he added.
Sebastian Sawe, racing in the streets of London for the first time brushed off an elite group of athletes to clinch the title with an impressive 2:02:27.
His time is the second fastest for the race. Only one other athlete – the late world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum who ran 2:01:25 in 2023 – has ever gone quicker in the London Marathon.
The win means Sawe has now secured a second successive marathon victory in five months, following his 2:02:05 debut win in Valencia in December 2024.
Kipchoge, 40, on the other hand crossed the line after 2:05:25 behind second placed Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37), defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao (2:04:20), Abdi Nageeye (2:04:20) and Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia (2:04:42) who finished in the top five respectively.
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Tigist Assefa Smashes Women-only World Marathon Record
Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa smashed the women-only world record by 26 seconds at the TCS London Marathon, running 2:15:50 to win the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (27).
On a warm and sunny day, the Olympic silver medallist kicked away from Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei to clinch her first London Marathon win after finishing second to Peres Jepchirchir last year.
Jepchirchir’s winning mark of 2:16:16 a year ago had also been a women-only world record and that is the mark Assefa improved, finishing strongly to win by almost three minutes ahead of Jepkosgei (2:18:44). Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands was third (2:19:00).
The men’s race was won by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe in a dominant 2:02:27 – the second-fastest ever London Marathon time. World half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo was second on his marathon debut, setting a Ugandan record of 2:03:37, and defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya was third in 2:04:20. The top eight finished inside 2:07.
Given the strength of the field, the women-only world record was always the target. With that in mind, the lead group of Jepkosgei, Assefa, Hassan and Megertu Alemu followed the pacemakers through 5km in a blistering 15:34 – not only inside the targeted 2:15 pace, but on sub-2:12 rhythm.
The quartet maintained that pace through 10km, hitting that mark in 31:16. Hassan dropped back a little after the water station but rejoined the leaders and they all reached 15km in 47:11.
A significant gap opened up after 15km and while Hassan rallied, she was five seconds back at 20km – a deficit that would only increase. Assefa and Jepchirchir broke away by the halfway point, which they passed in 1:06:40, 10 seconds ahead of Hassan. Alemu was running in fourth place, two and a half minutes behind the leaders, but she dropped out before reaching 25km.
The final remaining pacemaker left the race at 25km and it was down to Assefa and Jepkosgei. Hassan was 26 seconds back, with Haven Hailu Desse, Stella Chesang and Vivian Cheruiyot following a further three minutes behind.
The leading pair continued to move away from the rest of the field and after 35km was reached in 1:52:12, Assefa made a break. After miles of 5:26, 5:26 and 5:28, a 5:03 24th mile made the difference and by 40km Assefa was 56 seconds ahead.
She finished hard to stride over the finish line in 2:15:50 – the third-fastest marathon of her career behind the 2:11:53 she ran to win in Berlin in 2023, a mark that at the time was a world record for a women’s marathon in a mixed race, and her 2:15:37 also from Berlin in 2022.
Jepkosgei, the 2021 London Marathon champion, worked hard to hold on to the runner-up spot and finished 2:54 behind Assefa. Hassan, who claimed a dramatic London marathon victory on her debut at the distance in 2023 and who pipped Assefa to the Olympic title in Paris last year, was a further 16 seconds behind them.
Desse, the 2023 Osaka Women’s Marathon champion, finished fourth in a PB of 2:19:17 and 2018 London Marathon champion Cheruiyot was fifth in 2:22:32, 10 seconds ahead of Chesang. Italy’s Sofiia Yaremchuk was seventh in a national record of 2:23:14, while Great Britain’s Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan ran 2:24:25 on her marathon debut for eighth place.
“When I crossed the line I felt extreme happiness – I was very, very happy to win the race here,” said Assefa.
Asked about her race strategy, she added: “I was training for all outcomes. I felt I could win with a sprint; I could also win with a long run from home. The main thing was to prepare well, and that’s what I did.”
Sawe storms to second successive marathon win
World half marathon champion Sawe secured a second successive marathon victory in five months, following his 2:02:05 debut win in Valencia in December with triumph in London in 2:02:27. Only one other athlete – the late world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum who ran 2:01:25 in 2023 – has ever gone quicker in the London Marathon.
A group of 12 featuring all the leading contenders in a high-quality field started at the targeted 2:01-2:02 pace, reaching the 5km mark in 14:25 led by Ethiopia’s Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha and Kenya’s marathon great Eliud Kipchoge.
Ten athletes were together in that lead group through 10km in 28:57. Only one of the three pacemakers remained at 15km, reached in 43:36, with Mengesha following the pacemaker and Kiplimo running at the back of the pack, looking comfortable.
By 20km it seemed that a tactical race was on the cards. Germany’s Amanal Petros, who had been due to run with the chase group, pushed the pace and led the pack through halfway in 1:01:30.
Sawe soon took control and the group was down to nine by 25km, Kenya’s Tokyo Marathon runner-up Timothy Kiplagat dropping from the pack. Sawe and his compatriot Hillary Kipkoech, who had been 26 seconds behind the leaders at 25km, led the field at 30km – a point they passed in 1:27:47. Four-time London Marathon champion Kipchoge was unable to stay with the leaders and a group of eight began to move away.
Feeling good, Sawe made a decisive break. Choosing not to take his drink at 30km, he kicked away and it was a move than none of his rivals could cover.
His surge included a 4:18 20th mile and after a 5km split of 13:56 he reached 35km in 1:41:43 – 22 seconds ahead of Kiplimo and 37 seconds ahead of Mengesha and Kipkoech.
Untroubled, Sawe completed his solo run to the finish line, passing 20km in 1:56:03 with a 46-second advantage before breaking the tape in 2:02:27 to win by 70 seconds. He ran an impressive negative split of 60:57 after passing the half marathon mark in 61:30.
Kiplimo was also safe in second place and he completed a successful debut in 2:03:37, while Munyao clinched third place, finishing in 2:04:20 and pipping Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and New York City Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye in a sprint finish, Nageeye improving his Dutch marathon record. Olympic champion Tamirat Tola was fifth in 2:04:42, while Kipchoge (2:05:25), Kipkoech (2:06:05) and Petros (2:06:30) all also broke 2:07.
Mahamed Mahamed was the top British finisher, running 2:08:52 for eighth place, while Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee clocked 2:11:08 on his marathon debut.
“I was very confident because I came in well prepared,” said Sawe. “That got me through today.”
London Marathon 2025 leading results
- Women
1 Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2:15:50
2 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:18:44
3 Sifan Hassan (NED) 2:19:00
4 Haven Hailu Desse (ETH) 2:19:17
5 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:22:32
6 Stella Chesang (UGA) 2:22:42
7 Sofiia Yaremchuk (ITA) 2:23:14
8 Eilish McColgan (GBR) 2:24:25
9 Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:25:01
10 Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:29:30
- Men
1 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 2:02:27
2 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:03:37
3 Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 2:04:20
4 Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:20
5 Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:04:42
6 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:05:25
7 Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) 2:06:05
8 Amanal Petros (GER) 2:06:30
9 Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) 2:08:52
10 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:09:01
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Agnes Ngetich Breaks Women-only World 10km Record in Herzogenaurach
Agnes Ngetich became the first athlete to break 30 minutes in a women-only 10km, smashing through that barrier with 29:27 at the Adizero Road To Records event in Herzogenaurach on Saturday (26).
The 24-year-old Kenyan, who already held the world record for 10km in a mixed race (28:46), was in dominant form, winning by more than a minute. After just five minutes, she had already stretched out the field and started to open up a comfortable lead.
Following her swift opening pace for the first two kilometres, Ngetich settled into a 2:57/km rhythm for the next three kilometres, reaching half way in 14:37 and putting her well on course to break the world record of 30:01 held by the late Agnes Jebet Tirop.
Ngetich’s pace dropped slightly in the second half, but she still managed to cover each remaining kilometre inside 3:00. Now well ahead of her nearest opponents, Ngetich charged through the finish line in 29:27, having covered the second half in 14:50.
“I’m so excited, I didn’t expect this,” she said. “Last year I missed it by two seconds, so I wanted to come here today and try for it again. I’m so proud of myself. After missing out on the Olympics last year, I want to make up for it this year at the World Championships.”
How did Emanuel Wanyonyi perform in Herzogenaurach?
Elsewhere in Herzogenaurach, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi produced a storming finish in the men’s mile to beat a high-quality field in a Kenyan record of 3:52.45, putting him third on the world all-time list. World road mile champion Hobbs Kessler was second in a PB of 3:54.34, just ahead of US compatriot Nico Young (3:54.50).
Yomif Kejelcha came within five seconds of the world record to win the men’s 5km in 12:54. The Ethiopian, who had won the 5km here in 2022 and 2024, was just one second shy of his race record, but still a convincing winner, finishing nine seconds ahead of Andrew Alamisi.
Fellow Ethiopian Medina Eisa also notched up her third 5km victory in Herzogenaurach, taking the women’s race in 14:48 in a close finish from compatriots Fotyen Tesfay (14:50) and Gela Hambese (14:51).
There was another repeat winner in the women’s mile as Nelly Chepchirchir successfully defended her title in 4:23. The Kenyan, who finished just outside of the medals in this event at the 2023 World Road Running Championships, took seven seconds off the PB she set here last year.
The men’s 10km was the closest race of the day. Four men were in contention as they entered the final kilometre, and they continued to run neck-and-neck with less than a minute to go.
Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew started kicking before turning into the finishing straight and he managed to carve out a lead of a few metres, crossing the finish line just ahead of Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida Diriba and Bahrain’s Rodrigue Kwizera, all three men being given the same finishing time (26:54). Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli was just behind in fourth in 26:56.
Herzogenaurach leading results
- WOMEN
Mile
1 Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN) 4:23.98
2 Hawi Abera Kumsa (ETH) 4:25.62
3 Addison Wiley (USA) 4:30.90
4 Birtukan Degu Shiferaw (ETH) 4:36.00
5 Taryn Rawlings (USA) 4:40.09
5km
1 Medina Eisa (ETH) 14:48
2 Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 14:50
3 Gela Hambese (ETH) 14:51
4 Janeth Chepngetich (KEN) 14:55
5 Loice Chekwemoi (UGA) 15:15
10km
1 Agnes Ngetich (KEN) 29:27
2 Fentaye Belayneh (ETH) 30:30
3 Senayet Getachew (ETH) 30:31
4 Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 30:41
5 Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH) 31:15
- MEN
Mile
1 Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) 3:52.45
2 Hobbs Kessler (USA) 3:54.34
3 Nico Young (USA) 3:54.50
4 Phanuel Kipkosgei (KEN) 3:56.08
5 Collins Kibiwott Koech (KEN) 3:58.63
5km
1 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 12:54
2 Andrew Alamisi (KEN) 13:03
3 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 13:08
4 Cornelius Kemboi (KEN) 13:11
5 Jacob Krop (KEN) 13:22,
10km
1 Birhanu Balew (BRN) 26:54
2 Gemechu Dida Diriba (ETH) 26:54
3 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 26:54
4 Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (KEN) 26:56
5 Vincent Kipkorir (KEN) 27:08
