June Chepkemei: Magical Kenya Trail Series opening up sports tourism across Counties

Kenya Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer June Chepkemei has assessed the Magical Kenya Trail Series as a huge success so far, saying the impact is already going beyond the Kenyan boarders.

Chepkemei has revealed that the athletes who starred during Barng’etuny Mountain Run in January 2025 are already preparing to represent Kenya in a Mountain Running Championship in Spain, expressing her pride in the role the trail series is playing in sharpening athletes.

Her review comes at a time all the focus has been turned to the Mt. Kenya Trail Series, which on Saturday entered Day Three in Tharaka Nithi County, in what is turning out to be another exciting experience of illuminating the immense potential of sports tourism in the region.

“Beyond the traditional sports disciplines that we know, we have seen major growth in the mountain runs and trails. As Magical Kenya, we came up with up with a new product which is the Magical Kenya Trail Series that has been going round the country to really show the beauty that the mountains have to offer.

“So, those who love adventure, those who love trailing and those who are positioning for mountain runs, this series is also a platform for that talent,” explained Chepkemei.

“We are happy to report that the team that won the Barng’etuny Mountain Run earlier this year under the Magical Kenya Series are proceeding to Spain to represent the country. We can therefore confidently say that we are on the right direction in positioning for sports tourism globally,” added the CEO.

In the Mt. Kenya Trail Series, local authorities have embraced the initiative terming it as game-changer in the tourism sector, calling for more similar partnerships. Kirinyaga County CEC in charge of Tourism Albert Njeru on Friday underscored the importance of the series, after overseeing a tree planting exercise at the Castle Royal Lodge in Kirinyaga, which followed a hiking and cycling session in the Mount Kenya Forest.

“We have witnessed today hikers and cyclists traverse this County and the reports that we are getting they are excited for the scenic destinations they have seen, which underlines Kinrinyaga County’s high potential in tourism. We have at least four major strands of tourism here; including tourism sites that have been explored and other that are yet to be navigated.

“Kirinyaga County also boasts of agro-tourism especially in Mwea region, and we also have big potential in cultural heritage in places like Mathigira where there are exciting cultural sites,” outlined Njeru, also highlighting their recent collaboration with Murang’a County in hosting African Water Rafting Championship, another milestone in sports tourism.

The call for embracing diversified local tourism away from the traditional sub-sectors has been consistent through the Mt. Kenya Trail, which culminates on Sunday in Meru.