By REUBEN OLITA
September 30, 2026| Protus Soet Tuyobei and Emily Mutondo were crowned men’s and women’s 10km champions at the Western Region Teachers Day Run, which concluded at Kakamega School on Sunday.
Tuyobei, representing FYM Junior School in Bungoma County, dominated the men’s race with a winning time of 36 minutes and 21.23 seconds. His victory led a 1-2 finish for Bungoma, as Paul Tanui crossed the line second in 37:28.12. Busia County’s Kelvin Adenya of Akobwait Junior Secondary School broke Bungoma’s stranglehold on the podium, finishing third in 40:58.53.
Speaking to journalists after the race, Tuyobei expressed his delight at the win, noting that he had not faced stiff opposition. “I have featured in several national meetings where I have finished among the top 10 or 20,” he said.
In the men’s 10km disability category, Busia County claimed the top two positions through Maxwell Opiyo and Bernard Oduki, while Bungoma’s Majani finished third.
Kakamega’s Mutondo claimed the women’s 10km title in 41:26.74, leading a strong showing for the host county. Magdalene Pembere, also of Kakamega, finished second in 41:46.18, while Vihiga’s Damaris Mulaa took third in 41:50.30.
In the women’s disability category, Busia’s Christian Ouma finished first, followed by Sarah Mukhola and Alice Wanyonyi in second and third positions respectively.
Other Results — 5km:
Men: Gold — Abraham Obari; Silver — Mark Masinde; Bronze — Maxwell Opicho.
Women: Gold — Jackline Inzefu; Silver — Veronica Lumumba; Bronze — Muruli Claire.
The top three finishers in each category received gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.
TSC Highlights Promotions and Wellness
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Commissioner Dr. Nicodemus Anyang announced that the commission had printed 1,882 certificates for the event, which attracted more than 1,300 teachers. However, he acknowledged that budgetary constraints had resulted in fewer T-shirts being printed and distributed equally across the regions.
“We shall lobby for sponsors in future to eliminate such teething challenges,” Dr. Anyang said.
The commissioner noted that promotions had previously been a challenge due to limited funding, but the situation had changed significantly over the past four years. “There has been a paradigm shift in the past four years in terms of promotions. During this period, we managed to promote 100,000 teachers in four years,” he said.
Dr. Anyang added that the commission planned to promote another 34,000 teachers during the current financial year, following an increase in the allocation for promotions from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion. He said the emphasis would be on teachers in cadres C1 and C2 in both primary and secondary schools.
“This is aimed at raising the motivation of teachers in these cadres who are, in most cases, forgotten,” he said.
The TSC said the Teachers Day celebrations were intended to recognise the achievements of teachers and highlight the contribution of the teaching profession to Kenya’s development.
Dr. Anyang described the run as a symbol of endurance, discipline, resilience, and perseverance, urging teachers to embrace healthy lifestyles beyond the event.
“Let this Run Day inspire us to make healthier choices, remain physically active, look after our mental and emotional well-being, and encourage those around us to do the same,” he said.
He urged teachers to carry the spirit of the event beyond the occasion and make wellness a sustainable part of their daily lives. “Let the run be the spark that ignites a daily commitment to choosing healthy lifestyles,” he said.
The event brought together teachers, communities, education stakeholders, and partners around a common purpose, with the TSC saying the run demonstrated its commitment to physical fitness, mental well-being, teamwork, and a healthy work-life balance.