Some of Starehe Boys Centre students who are ridinng to raise Sh10 m fees on August 12, 2026 . [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Thirteen students from Starehe Boys Centre have embarked on the final leg of a gruelling 1,100-kilometre charity bikeathon from Nairobi to Mombasa to raise fees for their needy colleagues.
The riders resumed their journey on Wednesday after arriving in Nairobi from Busia on Monday and taking a day to rest and recover.
Their ultimate goal is to raise Sh10 million for the Starehe Boys Centre education fund, helping provide opportunities for future students.
The Dr Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon honours the legacy of Starehe Boys Centre founder Geoffrey Griffin, remembered for championing education and opportunity for young people.
But organisers say the challenge is not simply about raising money. It is designed to expose students to lessons that cannot easily be taught inside a classroom.
“This is a character-building adventure. In class, you learn many things theoretically, but on the road, you experience them for yourself,” said Ian Hicho, the team's technical director and coach.
According to Hicho, the journey is teaching the riders resilience, preparation, discipline and the ability to remain focused despite difficulties.