CS Moe flags off cyclists partaking in the 7th Edition of the Great African Cycling Safari outside her office in Nairobi.
Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Moe has today praised the Great Africa Cycling Safari (GACS) for promoting cycling sport, tourism and highlighting opportunities and challenges facing citizens of the East African Community (EAC).
She said the annual event served as a regional advocacy podium supporting the EAC integration process through awareness creation, cross-cultural interaction, environmentally responsible tourism, economic growth, gender and human capital, food security and safety and health in the region.
She was addressing 19 cyclists in her office who are participating in the 7th Edition of the cycling event that kicked off on August 1st 2024 in Bunjumbura, Burundi and snailed through Tanzania before entering Kenya at the Namanga Border Post in Kajiado County on August 17th 2024.
The team travelled through Kajiado to Makueni and arrived in Nairobi yesterday. They will cross over to Uganda on 27th August, 2024 via Suam border point in Trans Nzoia County after covering 1002 kms in 12 days.
She thanked the cyclists for engaging in climate change mitigation exercises during their 10-day stint in Kenya such as tree planting, establishing integration clubs and Mama cycling clubs and carrying out food security awareness creation among other activities.
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CS Moe noted that Kenya has identified monetization of talent as one of the solutions towards youth empowerment and employment and challenged the EAC partner states to make cycling a more competitive and commercial enterprise.
She said that in its past six editions, the event had included People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the cycle tour thus enhancing inclusivity, promoted peace and integration among the citizens of the EAC and sensitized communities on food security, environmental and climate change control and accelerated transition into a regional confederation.
Addressing the cyclists, East African Community Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat said the event was a catalyst for sports development, trade and e-commerce, a platform for talent and skills identification and stimulating local economies along its trail.
“It promotes trade in cycling gear, local products, and services, while also showcasing the potential for e-commerce platforms to support sports events and tourism. Additionally, the safari acts as a mobile advertisement for the diverse landscapes and cultures of the EAC, potentially boosting both intra-regional and international tourism,” he said.
The Team Leader John Bosco Balongo said this year’s cycling safari drew 23 participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi adding that this year’s theme was “Furthering Campaigns to Promote Food Security, Peace and Climate Mitigation”.