*Nairobi Roads to Close for World AIDS Day Half Marathon on December 1*
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has announced temporary road closures in Nairobi on Sunday, December 1, between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, to accommodate the 2024 World AIDS Day Half Marathon and related races.
The marathon, which focuses on promoting the health and well-being of men and boys, will begin at Nyayo Stadium and follow a route that includes:
- Uhuru Highway, Kenyatta Avenue, Koinange Street, Muindi Mbingu Street, Wabera Street, Taifa Road, Harambee Avenue, and Parliament Road.
- Additional roads include Haile Selassie Avenue, Lower and Upper Hill Roads, Marathon Road, Ragati Road, Hospital Road, Elgon Road, Mtumbato Road, Masaba Road, Wakuhuri Road, Bunyala Road, Commercial Street, Enterprise Road, Dar es Salaam Road, Dunga Road, Lusaka Road, and Aerodrome Road.
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KURA has urged the public to use alternative routes as guided by traffic police and marshals and to plan for the disruptions accordingly.
*Participants and Race Categories*
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, will join the marathon and has encouraged Kenyans to participate. “We need to race against time to curb HIV/AIDS by 2030. Let’s come together to raise awareness, break the stigma, and play our part in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Omanyala shared on Instagram.
The event will feature five race categories:
*Wheelchair Race:** Starts at 6:30 AM
*Half Marathon:** Starts at 7:00 AM
*CEO’s Race:** Starts at 7:10 AM
*10 km Run:** Starts at 8:10 AM
*5 km Family Fun Run:* Starts at 9:00 AM
*Organizers and Theme*
The National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) is organizing the marathon under the theme: *“Promoting the Health and Well-being of Boys and Men.”* The event aims to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS while addressing related issues such as gender-based violence, unintended pregnancies, and substance abuse.
*Why Focus on Boys and Men?*
In 2023, data from NSDCC revealed that:
*5,968 new HIV infections* were recorded among boys and men, with 44% occurring in the 15-34 age group.
*487,710 boys and men* were living with HIV, representing a prevalence rate of 2.2%.
*9,808 boys and men* died from AIDS-related illnesses, with 70% of deaths among men over 30 years old.
The marathon aims to spotlight these statistics and rally efforts to combat HIV/AIDS while improving health outcomes for boys and men.
