Kenya's Chumba and Ongori win UNEP Half Marathon

NAIROBI, Feb 24, 2013 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- by Ben Ochieng Kenya's Dickson Chumba and Phylles Ongori won the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-backed 21km Half Marathon in Nairobi on Sunday to support an initiative to raise awareness of the need for peaceful elections in Kenya.

Chumba won the men's category under Nairobi's scorching sun in a time of 1:04.32 to pocket the first prize money of 1,800 U.S.

dollars.

Jackson Limo emerged second in a time of 1:04.51 while the third position went to John Loyiang who stopped the clock at 1:04.52.

Chumba, who described the competition as stiff and as could be testified by the mini seconds that separated the runners, said the victory served as a launching pad for his international career.

"There is a beginning to everything and this race marks my springboard to big time competition," said Chumba who won his first major race of his career.

Ongori won the women's event in a time of 1:08.59 and was closely followed by Eunice Mumbua Kioko who placed second after clocking 1:09.24. Hellen Chepkurgat emerged third overall in a time of 1:09.36.

"It was a tough race and I did not expect to win as the competition was stiff," Ongori said during a post-race interview.

"However, in the last 5 kilometers, I stepped on the pedal after I saw my competition struggling and from then it was all systems go for me." Ongori said she will compete in the Berlin Half Marathon in April and expressed satisfaction that her win was indication that she was enjoying top form.

"Winning the race at home against my fellow Kenyans is a sign of good things to come in Berlin considering that nowadays in international races we compete against ourselves." The United Nation's Half Marathon race was organized to celebrate the decision to strengthen and upgrade the UNEP headquarters which is based in Nairobi to universal membership.

Among the runners who raced through the streets of Nairobi alongside the public to also support the initiative to raise awareness of the need for peaceful elections in Kenya during the general elections scheduled for March 4 was world record holder Patrick Makau who took part in the 7.5km event.

"I am here to lend support to the UNEP's worthy cause and also to give moral encouragement to the upcoming athletes," Makau told Xinhua after the race.

As well as celebrating UNEP's new universal membership, the 21km race, whose total prize money stood at 17,000 U.S. dollars, is also in support of the Sports for Peaceful Elections Campaign that was started in January by the UN in conjunction with Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Last year, UNEP organized a half marathon race in Nairobi to celebrate the organization's 40th anniversary which coincided with the convening of the 12th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum which was attended by dignitaries from over 150 countries.

Victor Kipchirchir won last year's event in a time of 1:00.27 whereas Mercy Chemtai won the women's category when she clocked 1:12.27.

The decision to strengthen and upgrade UNEP to universal membership was reached by heads of states at the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012 and officially confirmed by the UN General Assembly in December The upgrading of UNEP is expected to enhance its efficiency in dealing with environmental issues and will address the institutional gap that existed in countering evolving environmental challenges currently.

The set of decisions agreed upon for strengthening and upgrading UNEP include universal membership, secure and increased financial resources, progressive consolidation of UNEP headquarter functions and strengthened engagement with key UN coordination bodies.

There was also greater participation by member states in environmental diplomacy whereas the new universal character of the Governing Council and UNEP's re-affirmation as the leading environmental authority provided the legitimacy and authority that lacked in the previously limited membership of the Governing Council.

The General Assembly resolution also provides UNEP to receive secure, stable and increased financial resources from the regular budget of the UN, and calls for other UNEP donors to increase their voluntary funding.

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