On Sunday, November 16, 2025, 23-year-old Ben Wanyonyi from Tongaren, Bungoma County, along with two friends, set off on a 324-kilometer journey to Nairobi.
However, the three boys who had dreams of becoming professional athletes could not afford a bus ride to Nairobi, which costs approximately Ksh1,500 per person.
Their destination was Kasarani Stadium, where the second edition of the BingwaFest showdown was scheduled to run from Monday, November 17, to Sunday, November 23, 2025.
This led the three to decide to use an alternative: an unused motorcycle stored at Wanyonyi’s mother’s place.
From Tongaren to Nairobi
Speaking after advancing in the 100-meter semi-final heats at the Kasarani Stadium annex, Wanyonyi revealed that he and his friends still faced the challenge of having enough money to fuel the motorcycle and reach their destination.
This led to Wanyonyi’s mother coming to their rescue and giving them her pigeons, which they sold and got enough cash to set off.
Wanyonyi stated that they then set out, stopping in Eldoret to sleep briefly outside closed shops before continuing.
“On Tuesday, we refuelled in Nakuru as we had no more and we arrived in Nairobi and went to Ruiru. Our third friend then went back home with the motorcycle and the two of us who remained in Nairobi then came to Kasarani on Wednesday after another night of cold of fatigue.”
Sadly, Wanyonyi’s aide, who was 15 years old, was immediately rejected at the registration point in Kasarani due to his age, which was below the minimum age.
More Hurdles for Ben Wanyonyi
Wanyonyi then participated in the BingwaFest 100-meter heats and reached the semifinals, where he was eventually knocked out after failing to meet the required time.
“I suppose it is the fatigue. I have not slept since I arrived in Nairobi.”
When asked how he would get home now that he and his friend had been eliminated from the competition, Wanyonyi blankly answered that he had no idea.
“We are trying to figure out how we will get home. We have no money to be honest. We are waiting for the BingwaFest competition to conclude so we can see if we can get any help from anywhere.”
Wanyonyi stated that despite all the hardships he knew he had to go through, he was determined to participate in the BingwaFest Nairobi Edition, as he had been training to achieve his recently realized dream of becoming a professional athlete and needed to gauge his progress.
His first attempt came in December 2022 in Uasin Gishu County, when he was rejected and could not participate because the officials told him he was from another region.
He then missed several races due to a lack of sponsors and funds, before he met a woman named Cynthia Mumbo, who connected him to some sports event organizers in Kisumu in 2023.
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He performed poorly, coming out last, but took it as his biggest motivation to become a professional athlete.
Call for Support
Wanyonyi has called on all leaders from the Western region to support upcoming athletes, as many lack the channels to realize their dreams and achieve their goals despite being talented.
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“If leaders in Western could support talent by organizing training camps, it would really help.”
He added that he is looking for sponsors to support him and help him buy the required gear and transport fees to the various races.
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