One can’t talk about Kericho without bringing up the tea plantations. The town is famed for her lush green fields that stretch across thousands of acres. From a distance, the plantations are a picture-perfect stretch of green sea. But up close, this illusion falls apart, and the individuality of each tea leaf is better appreciated. Many who visit this small town enjoy taking casual strolls through the plantations to experience this phenomenon, but there are those who prefer a higher octane adventure, and in this respect, Kericho does not disappoint.
In 2014, two sports enthusiasts, Michael Owora and Angelous Kamande, came together and founded Team Tri Fit. Their goal was simple: to make triathlons a more popular sporting event in the country. Triathlons are quite demanding, both physically and mentally. Any athlete who takes part in a triathlon is expected to compete in three different sports at a go: swimming, cycling, and racing. It is a test of endurance and a boast of strength. In 2017, Team Tri Fit held one of its first events at Chesumot Farm, a privately owned farm located 10 kilometres from the town centre along the Nakuru – Kericho highway. This has since become an annual event which continues to gain more popularity as time goes by.
Participants in the triathlon can sign up for one of the five race categories, with two of these categories organized specially for kids. At the sound of the starter’s gun, competitors of the main event category dive into the freezing cold waters of Chesumot’s dam and swim 750 metres to the first finish line. They then jump on their bikes and cycle 20 kilometres through the farm and finally finish the event with a 5 kilometre race, surrounded by views of sprawling acres of tea fields. The most recent event was on 4th August 2019, and we can hardly wait for the next dates to be announced.
If walking through the tea plantations or competing in a triathlon is not for you, don’t worry. Kericho also has something to offer those seeking a relaxing green gold experience. Eight kilometres south of the bustling town is Chagaik Arboretum, a place that redefines the meaning of serenity. The arboretum was established in 1944 after the Second World War by British settler Tom Grumbley to preserve the indigenous species of trees growing within. The arboretum is the perfect place for those who want nothing more than to lie on the grass and listen to the sounds of birds chirping all around. As is human nature, many visiting a new place often try and find a way to leave a mark. For some, it is a way to immortalize an event and for others, it is simply an affirmation of their existence in that place at one point in time. At Chagaik Arboretum, the bamboo trees bear hundreds of names engraved into the barks. Anyone visiting the place is free to etch their names into one of the bamboo stems and memorialize their trip to this beautiful enclave.
