A mixture of exhaustion and relief was plastered on the faces of 13 teenage boys as they mustered whatever was left from their last energy reserves, pedalling into the 19th and last county of their 1,100-km journey.
They had beaten harsh weather conditions, survived crazy long-distance drivers, defied their body limits, and endured nasty lung-threatening dust and exhaust fumes from trucks and un-roadworthy vehicles to push their limits beyond their extremes.
But one thing was in all their minds as the fresh coastal breeze of Mombasa County hit their dusty faces.
They had to do this – battling scotching sun, treacherous hills, heavy traffic, and the pain of sitting on a small bicycle chair pedalling incessantly throughout the 13 days – to provide opportunities for underprivileged students who would otherwise struggle to access quality education.
They had completed a remarkable journey from Busia to Mombasa, riding the entire stretch with determination to help future engineers, pilots, lawyers, doctors, lecturers and cadet officers in the military get to fulfil their dreams despite their humble backgrounds.
The conquering 13 cyclists, all students of the Starehe Boys’ Centre, aged between 14 and 17, had just completed the second Dr Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bike-A-Thon 2026 involving students.
The Bike-A-Thon is meant to raise Sh10 million, which goes towards the Starehe Education Fund, which helps sponsor needy but bright students throughout secondary school at Starehe Boy’ and Starehe Girls’ Centres.
Apart from honouring the legacy of the late Geoffrey Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys’ Centre and a champion of education and opportunity, the Bike-A-Thon also seeks to instil in the students resilience, discipline and determination in life.
Dr Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon technical director Ian Hicho said by Sunday, when the Bike-A-Thon ended, they had raised slightly above a million shillings.
Safaricom, whose CEO Peter Ndegwa is an alumnus of Starehe Boys’ Centre, donated Sh1 million, while other alumni had by then donated slightly more than Sh200,000.
“But we are still open, and the contributions can still come in from friends, well-wishers, all Kenyans and the world at large,” Hicho said.
Hicho said well-wishers can also sponsor a child directly at the Starehe Schools, including both boys and girls.
Main sponsors of the Bike-A-Thon have been Vivo Energy, Safaricom and St Johns Ambulance.
About 78 per cent of Starehe students are on full scholarship, while the remaining 22 per cent pay an economic fee.
The 13 student cyclists represent both groups.
Seventeen-year-old captain of the team, Leon Stanley, who is in Form 3, said he has since developed a never-give-up attitude since the journey started, from preparation in January to its end on Sunday, August 16.
According to Hicho, who is also the team coach, the idea was to do 100 km a day.
That is why he had to prepare the students physically and mentally through workouts since January.
The journey tested the riders against changing road conditions, traffic, hills, heat, wind and fatigue, but the team remained committed to completing the challenge together.
Stanley said the trucks, wind, dust, heat, and cold have all been a lesson.
“But with God, everything is possible,” he said.
They started the ride from Busia to Mombasa on August 3 and took eight days to reach Nairobi on August 10.
They rested for two days in Nairobi so they could replenish before embarking on the last stretch from Nairobi to Mombasa on Wednesday, August 12.
“The Nairobi to Mombasa leg was the most challenging for me as compared to Busia to Nairobi since here, yes, the roads are good, but the wind makes you suffer.
“It’s like you are climbing a hill that is not there. It is like you are doing double the work that you should be doing,” Stanley said.
“The most important lesson I have learnt is you should never give up and keep on forging forward.
“Among the many challenges we encountered were the trucks. You find trucks overtaking from both sides of the road; there is one on the left and one on the right.
“So, you are at the centre, and you have to be alert at all times to make sure there is no accident,” Stanley said.
The journey also offered the young riders lessons in leadership, teamwork and responsibility.
“Being team captain means making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be, that the bikes are in order and that the team moves together.
“It has taught me that leadership is not just about being in front. It is about making sure everyone gets to the destination,” Stanley said.
The whole journey has also exposed him to the reality of the infrastructure needs that the country has.
Stanley and Hicho called on the government to establish more infrastructure for the cyclists.
“More cycling lanes even on highways and more education for drivers and other road users to make them understand that anyone using the road has equal rights to that road because they all pay taxes,” they said.
They noted that during the journey, the cyclists were treated as less road users than the motorists.
Vivo Energy Kenya internal communication and corporate social responsibility coordinator Tara Muchina said the boys showed resilience and discipline throughout the whole journey from Busia to Mombasa.
Muchina said the hope is that the 13 have got more discipline and come out of the remarkable journey as better men.
Vivo Energy fuelled all vehicles that escorted the boys from Busia to Mombasa and helped offer refreshments to all those who participated in one way or another in the Bike-A-Thon.
“This was very important for us because we are big on empowering the youth and the future generation. We believe these 13 represent the future of the country,” Muchina said.
She said supporting young people and investing in the next generation remains an important part of Vivo Energy Kenya’s sustainability agenda.
St John Ambulance provided emergency medical and safety support to the riders throughout the journey.
The challenge, however, saw all 13 students and the technical team complete the challenge with no incidents or accidents, despite the road hazards.
At Starehe Boys Centre, the Bikeathon is viewed as both a fundraising initiative and an extension of the school’s approach to developing well-rounded young people.
Evans Njoro, Deputy Director, Starehe Boys’ Centre, said the experience provided the students with lessons that extend well beyond the classroom.
“We hope they take away three things: the self-esteem and character that comes from taking on a major challenge, a sense of service and self-sacrifice, and the importance of team spirit. You are out there on the road together, not competing against one another, and everyone has a role to play,” he said.
