All major roads in Eldoret have been closed ahead of the 2024 African Road Cycling Championship which starts today with 20 countries participating.
Most vehicles using the Nairobi-Eldoret-Malaba road have been diverted to use the southern bypass or other routes around the city where the main Uganda road will be extensively used for the peddling event.
Uasin Gishu county police commander Benjamin Mwanthi said the traffic disruption will remain in place until Sunday when the continental event will end.
“We urge all residents and all road users to cooperate with the security agencies especially in security matters and traffic guides during the event," Mwanthi said.
Hundreds of police officers from neighbouring counties have been deployed to man the city and all routes where the event will be taking place.
Also being guarded are top hotels where more than 2,000 foreign guests and participants have been booked.
The Uasin Gishu County and Kenya National Highways Authority did some road repairs like the removal of bumps and concrete barriers to ensure the roads comply with standards for the competition.
The championship kicks off at the Eldoret County headquarters with the main route covering parts of the counties of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet.
Cyclists from the participating nations also carried out test runs on the route to be used for the event.
“We are all set for the event and happy to host such an international cycling event adding to the fact that our region is a global sports hub," Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said.
Most teams representing various counties had already arrived in Eldoret and Morocco was among the first nations to have its representatives in the region.
42 cyclists to represent Kenya were training in Iten town ahead of the event.
This will be the first time the pedalling extravaganza will held in Kenya specifically in Eldoret which is now referred to as the City of Champions.
Bii said it would be another chance for Uasin Gishu - a self-proven sporting hub - to prove to the world that it is indeed Kenya's sports nerve that is also famous for athletics and volleyball among other games.
Sports executive Lucy Ng'endo said the county is already preparing for the event that will uplift Uasin Gishu as a sports giant.
"As the city of champions we have all it takes because this event will also motivate our young people to join cycling as a sport," said Ng'endo.
The event will bring to the city hundreds of participants especially cyclists from across the continent.
Cyclists representing African countries will battle it out for the men's and women's titles. Each country will be represented by 8 athletes from each category.
Last year, Golazo Sports in partnership with the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC), held the cycling championship in Ghana where at least 22 countries participated.
This year as event according to the official schedule the individual time trial event will take place today (Wednesday) with the start point at the Uasin Gishu county headquarters.
Tomorrow (Thursday) there will be the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay and the MaMa Cycling Mass Event. On Friday there will be the Junior Men and Women Event, followed by the Elite and Under 23 Women event. Sunday will be the final day with the Elite and U23 Men events taking place.