Inside fun-filled boat racing event at Lake Naivasha

With decorated paddles in hand, four teams of seven men each, dressed in bright orange life jackets, boarded their boats, ready for the race.

As the teams prepared, a team call signalled the moment, setting the stage for an intense competition.  

Lined up at the starting point, the competitors sat poised in their boats, gripping their paddles tightly, their muscles tense with anticipation. 

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers, eager for the race to begin, with many holding up their phones, ready to capture the action.  

As the whistle blew, paddles struck the water in unison, sending up sprays as the teams dug in with synchronized strokes.

The boats surged forward, creating waves as each team pushed hard for an early lead. The race followed a designated route marked by buoys, strategically placed 500 meters apart.  

Kamere Beach Management Unit (BMU) quickly took the lead, with spectators following the race with excitement. 

As Team Kamere reached the shore first, the crowd erupted in celebration, some nearly rushing into the water before being stopped. The victors stood in their boats, raising their paddles in triumph, while Team Tarambete followed closely behind.  

In this year's Lake Naivasha boat racing event, Kamere BMU secured its third consecutive championship title, finishing the race in 15 minutes. 

Tarambete BMU followed with a time of 17 minutes, Central BMU completed the race in 18 minutes, while Karagita BMU trailed significantly, finishing in 53 minutes.  

The winning team was awarded Sh. 7,000 along with a gift hamper for each team member.  

The race was organized to foster unity among the Beach Management Units (BMUs) of Lake Naivasha while also celebrating World Wetlands Day.  

Kamere BMU’s team captain, Bonny Olumbe, expresses his excitement, saying the win was not only entertaining but also a memorable experience, thanks to the overwhelming support from the residents.  

"Despite limited training, securing this victory for the third time was a huge achievement for us," he says. "Our strategy was teamwork, and we wanted to assert our dominance in the race even though we only trained for two days."  

Meanwhile, Nicholas Naodi, the captain of Team Tarambete, commends his team for finishing second in their first-ever participation in the event.  

"Most of our team members are fishermen, and we only had two days of training. It was an exciting experience, and we plan to train harder for the next race," he says.  

Naodi also urges the government to support boat racing, emphasizing its potential to boost tourism in Lake Naivasha and provide young people with economic opportunities through the sport.