Why 13 Starehe Boys Are Cycling 1,100km From Nairobi To Mombasa

Thirteen boys from Starehe Boys Centre have resumed their 1,100-kilometer cycling challenge from Nairobi to Mombasa after cycling from Busia to Nairobi.

According to a statement by one of their supporters, Vivo Energy, the boys arrived in Nairobi on August 10, 2026, after cycling through various counties and then resting at Starehe Boys Centre.

The annual cycling event is to celebrate the legacy of the founder of Starehe Boys Centre Dr. Geoffeey William Griffin while raising money for scholarships, sustainability and infrastructure.

This event was flagged off by Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa at the Michael Joseph Centre, Safaricom Headquarters as he was seeing off the boys for them to begin cycling to Mombasa.

They are working towards raising a total of Ksh 10 million for the Starehe Boys Centre education fund, and they began the challenge on July 3, 2026.

The Dr. Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon honours the legacy of the late Geoffrey Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys Centre and a lifelong champion of education and opportunity for young people.

“This is a character-building adventure. In class, you learn many things theoretically, but on the road, you experience them for yourself. You learn resilience, focus, preparation, and what it means to stay on task and keep moving towards a goal,” said Ian Hicho, their team coach.

Starehe Boys Train for 1,100km Cycling Challenge

The students cyclying were selected through a very competitive process and were trained by professional riders, coaches, teachers and also volunteers.

Hicho said the boys had undergone months of physical training and mental preparation, including long-distance cycling of 100 kilometers per day.

“You cannot just wake up and ride 1,100 kilometers. The preparation started months ago, with physical training, long-distance rides, and mental preparation,” he said.

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Students were tested with the challenges they faced, such as changing road conditions, traffic, hills, heat, and fatigue, but they managed to arrive in Nairobi and are determined to reach Mombasa.

“The biggest lessons for me are determination and resilience. There are moments when you feel like giving up, especially when climbing the hills, but you remember why you started, and you keep going,” said Fidel Alfred Odhiambo.

Students Gain Support as They Push Towards Mombasa

Additionally, the boys are being supported by partners such as Vivo Energy, who have been providing stopping points and refreshments to the boys along the way.

The challenge is also supported by emergency response teams from St. John’s Ambulance, providing safety and medical assistance as the riders make their way across the country.

For the school, the challenge is viewed as a fundraiser and also an initiative and an extension of them developing well-rounded students.

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“We hope they take away three things: the self-esteem and character that comes from taking on a major challenge, a sense of service and self-sacrifice, and the importance of team spirit,” said their director Fred Okono.

As the boys head to Mombasa, Starehe Boys Centre is calling upon members of the public and well-wishers to support their education fund by contributing.

They expect to complete their 1,100-kilometre journey and arrive in Mombasa on Sunday, August 16.

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Starehe boys who are cycling to Mombasa
PHOTO/Vivo