The Kigali International Peace Half Marathon provincial road races kick off today in Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) confirmed on Friday.

Each of the provincial road races will cover a total distance of 15 kilometres. This year’s edition (main event) is scheduled for May 22 in Kigali.

Speaking to Saturday Sport RAF technical director, John Peter Ndacyayisenga, revealed that rigorous preparations for this year’s marathon are on a track.

He also disclosed that the country-wide tour of the ‘peach torch’ an event organized by the athletics federation in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) will commence today.

"The provincial races will cover all the four provinces plus the City of Kigali before the main event on May 22,” he said.

According to Ndacyayisenga, the country-wide tour has three main objectives, among them is campaigning for the HeForShe movement that intends to engage men and boys as agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights.

Last year, Kenya’s Ezekial Kemboi (men) won the Kigali International Peace Marathon after he clocked2:18:15 followed by local athlete Jean Baptiste Ruvubi in 2:19:03.

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