By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The second edition of Betika BingwaFest kicked off on Monday August 11, 2025, at Nakuru for the Rift Valley Region, with action across the four disciplines –athletics, football, rugby, and 3×3 basketball- set to culminate this Sunday August 17, 2025, at the Afraha Stadium as teams and individuals battle for a share of the KES 17 million prize kitty.
Football action started with the preliminary matches involving 16 men’s teams and 16 ladies’ teams on Monday, with rugby and basketball set to start on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Betika Head of Brand Eric Mwiti said: “The inaugural BingwaFest was more than just a tournament; it was a movement that brought communities together, showcased incredible talent, and changed lives. From young athletes who got their first big break, to fans who experienced world-class competition right at their doorstep, the impact was felt far and wide. As we kick off Season Two this weekend in Nakuru, we are excited to build on that legacy. We can’t wait to see teams from across various sports disciplines bring their very best to the field, the track, and the court. At Betika, our commitment goes beyond the game, we are here to nurture talent, inspire dreams, and create unforgettable moments for our athletes and fans. This weekend promises to be nothing short of electrifying.”
2013 World Championships Silver medalist over 5000m Mercy Cherono will highlight the athletics action over both 5000m and 10,000m and will face stiff competition from Maurine Jepkoech who was crowned the 10,000m BingwaFest national champion in Siaya in April as the first season concluded.
Speaking ahead of the extravaganza, Cherono said: “We are happy that BingwaFest is coming back for the second season. This is a tournament that has valued athletics as much as the other sports, and it is a good platform for us athletes to not only help us stay in shape but also earn some money. I will be taking part in the 5,000m and the 10,000m races, and I look forward to it.”
Winners in football and rugby, both men and women, will pocket KES 1 million each, while the winning teams in the 3×3 basketball will go home KES 500,000 richer. The first runners-up for football and rugby will be awarded KES 500,000, while the second runners-up are set to receive KES 250,000. In basketball, the teams that finish second and third will take home KES 250,000 and KES 100,000, respectively.
In athletics, more than KES 6M will be up for grabs in the various track disciplines that will be on show, with both male and female athletes receiving equal prize money.
Gold medalists in the lucrative 10,000m will take home KES 300,000 as the first and second runners up will pocket KES 250,000 and KES 200,000 respectively. The athletes who finish fourth and fifth will round off the prize bracket and will receive KES 100,000 and KES 75,000 in that order.
In the 5,000m category, winners will be awarded KES 250,000, second place finishers KES 150,000, third place KES 100,000, fourth place KES 50,000, and fifth place KES 30,000.
Prizes for the top five in the 100m, 4000m, 800m, and 1,500m will be the same, with gold medalists receiving KES 150,000, silver medalists KES 100,000, and bronze medalists KES 60,000. The fourth and fifth place finishers will pocket KES 30,000 and KES 20,000.
Just like in the first season, there will be a free medical camp in Nakuru that will run throughout the weekend and will offer general consultation services, specialist consultation services, laboratory and pharmacy services.
