Kenya continues to grapple with the heavy burden of diabetes and hypertension. The country’s Ministry of Health is under immense pressure to raise awareness on the disease and help Kenyans identify the earliest signs and seek treatment. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in every four Kenyans live with diabetes. Of these, more than 60% do not know that they have the disease and have never attempted to get checked for diagnosis. The World Bank puts the number of people affected by Diabetes at between 800,000 and over 1,000,000. As such, helping Kenyans manage diabetes and hypertension will be key to securing the future of its population.
Diabetes is only one of many non-communicable and lifestyle diseases that continue starting the country’s healthcare budget and planning. Hypertension, high blood pressure and obesity also affect Kenyans in many different ways. Put together, these diseases account for about 41% of annual deaths and about 50% of all deaths.
It is against this backdrop that Kenyans are now organising themselves in wellness groups to collectively access wellness programs and natural remedies to the diseases. The remedies people have sought has included, running, walking and regular exercise to keep fit. All of these have been known to significantly reduce chances of developing lifestyle complications like diabetes and hypertension.
Running clubs in Nairobi and Mombasa are now organizing walks and running initiatives to raise awareness on the importance of regular exercise and keeping fit.
On 1 November 2026, running clubs including The Hikers Club, Karura Running Club, and Mombasa Walkers came together to conduct a 25Km walk that stretched from Nairobi CBD to trails within Karura Forest.
The walk was attended by fitness and wellness clubs in Nairobi as well as members of the Kenya Navy and started from the Nairobi City Centre early Sunday morning before proceeding to marked trails within Karura Forest amidst showers that made the forest trail soft and slippery. A total of 25km was covered by participants across the entire trail.
This year’s walk is part of year-long initiatives by both Karura Running Club and Mombasa Walkers Movement to help their respective members to improve health and aid the recovery and disease management process for those with chronic lifestyle conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma.
Helping Kenyans Manage Diabetes and Hypertension
Mombasa Walkers Movement founder and Chairman Major (Rtd) Abdirahman Idriss says making it possible for members to come together and participate in wellness activities makes him proud of the progress the club has made since its formation.
“Walking is the easiest and healthiest form of exercise to engage in. Not everybody can afford a gym, or has a swimming pool. Walking brings us all together and gives us great benefits whenever we do it. We have now built a whole community within Mombasa and Nairobi. We want everybody to enjoy these activities and appreciate the benefits due to everyone who participates,” said Major Idriss
He says partnerships, such as the one with Karura Running Club and other clubs are meant to make the practice a nationwide activity that will help people build fitness, better manage their health and build meaningful connections beyond club structures.
Major Idriss started Mombasa Walkers Movement 5 years ago after a personal battle with hypertension and diabetes pushed him to regular walks and exercise to manage the diseases. What started as a personal initiative has now grown into a big club with growing membership from all over the country. The club will celebrate its 5th anniversary this December.
Karura Running Club’s Henry Bosuben says taking part in well-organised exercise sessions such as the day’s 25KM walk opens doors for increased consistency and accrued benefits from exercising, where participants get to achieve exercise goals while enjoying themselves.
“The structure and in-built system for progressive exercise make walking in groups more beneficial and helps participants achieve their exercising goals more easily. Through this walk, we are able to network and keep healthy with little effort,” said Henry.
Karura Running Club has grown steadily since its founding in 2017 and now boasts a membership of more than 100 active running members. Its growth has been helped by its active participation in environmental support initiatives, including tree planting and garbage collection that have won widespread praise from communities within and outside Nairobi.
Despite the tricky terrain in Karura Forest, made worse by dawn showers, participants still managed to complete the entire 25km distance within the allocated 3 hours. Sarah Yolanda, a 6-year member of KRC said the experience itself was fulfilling despite the harsh dawn weather. She says the club is looking forward to further collaborations that will enhance the experience of its members
For Mercy Masa, a member of the Mombasa Walkers Movement for the past two-and-a-half years, walking has helped her manage an asthmatic condition that she has grown up with from an early age.
“As a child, I really struggled with my asthmatic condition. I couldn’t walk for even a distance of 1km. Since joining the club, I have been close to people within the club who have helped me manage the condition better and am now able to walk more than 20 kilometres easily and without complications,” she says.
She says the support she has received from the club has helped reduce the frequency of asthma attacks and she can now take part in long walks despite her parents’ initial fears.
As modern lifestyle changes grip the country, helping Kenyans manage diabetes and hypertension will be crucial to ensuring populations are protected and people live productive lives.
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