A fitness and mobility session by Kenyanpoet Wellness
It’s 7:00 A.M. on a Saturday morning in Nairobi, and Emily Chepkor, a lawyer turned runner and founder of We Run Nairobi, is briefing a large gathering of runners, joggers and walkers outside the Baobox restaurant about the route distances and markings as she welcomes first timers. In front of her is a sea of luminous polyesters, brightly coloured dri-fit caps and a rainbow of running shoes, as at least a hundred faces spread out across the parking lot, giddy with excitement. Shortly after, someone from her team takes everyone on a warm-up routine. Minutes later, only the sound of feet shuffling, soles thumping and cheerful chatter can be heard as the legion of Nairobi’s growing wellness descends upon the sleepy Spring Valley neighbourhood.
We Run Nairobi is one of roughly two dozen running clubs that regularly host runs and walks over the weekends in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and other major towns. The club’s growth has sprung in the last five years. Kenya is fast becoming a hub of urban wellness, fitness innovation, and, for the first time, seriously contending to reconcile its global vs local image as the home of runners.
Lifestyle Diseases: Leading Causes of High Death Rate
Struggling with a dual identity—of a traditional running stronghold and a general perception among its populace towards the sport as a stylish urban wellness movement, no sport has exemplified a growing disconnect between mainstream society and those living in urban centres like running.
Running in rural regions is often not a choice but a way of life. Young children still run to school. Millions in Nairobi’s informal settlements walk to seek vibarua in the capital or the industrial areas. Herders still cover vast terrains daily, and for elite athletes, running is a golden ticket from poverty.
For a majority of the citizenry, running has remained something to watch on TV to celebrate our elite athletes, not something they lace up for on a Saturday or Sunday morning yet, lifestyle diseases are now the leading causes of death, with more than half of these deaths (55%) occuring due to high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes and cancer, according to statistics from the Ministry of Public Health, Sanitation and Medical Services.
These diseases also account for half of all hospital admissions. At a global scale, out of the 60% (36M) of deaths caused by lifestyle diseases, 80% are in Africa.
Some of the factors that have contributed to the Rise of Lifestyle Diseases include: Changes in urban lifestyles, including sedentary behaviours and unhealthy diets; Poor diets, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption are major risk factors; Limited education can exacerbate the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS)
So why has running, jogging or walking, despite being sports with the lowest barriers to entry (All one needs is a pair of sneakers, even second-hand ones, a top, some pants, and you’re out the door. No special equipment or space), yet to become a way of life for most?
Wellness as Lifestyle & Building Communities, Not Just Exercise
When Emily set out to establish We Run Nairobi in 2022, the ten-time marathoner who’s tackled big races like Boston, Berlin and Chicago, had experienced the USA and South Africa’s growing running scenes and was very clear on the club she wanted WRN to become; a ‘just show up basis’, no payments, no registration, no membership required community that encouraged all levels of fitness particularly walking.
“We Run Nairobi has reshaped how many Nairobian view running and wellness.” She told me on the podcast. ” The emphasis is on inclusivity and fun, and creative thriving spaces for connection, motivation, and shared achievements.” This informal approach is demystifying exercising.
The surge in urban running is part of a larger wellness movement sweeping across the middle class. Fitness is no longer just about going to the gym, bodybuilding or weight training. And it’s not just about the body—it’s about the mind and the soul as well. Weekend fitness activities have become popular social events that blend physical challenge with community bonding.
Take Rotator Tribe, a community started by fitness coach Shiverenje Simani recently. Their bi-monthly weekend event is made up of mindful routines, core, flexibility and mobility movements led by Simani.
Another such community whose emphasis is more on holistic wellness is Flow Kenya with their Flow Sunday Service, an event where mobility training, cold plunges, and recovery are curated by Kazz, the founder of Mint Kenya- a fitness gym in Westlands.
For those into cycling, Critical Mass Nairobi– a cycling movement and advocacy non-profit that promotes sustainable mobility and fosters a cycling culture is one of more than a dozen cycling clubs that are also demystifying the sport even as they reshape how we experience urban spaces, nature, and reclaim the roads for people over cars.
Content creators are the New Wellness Influencers
Fitness content creators Skimo Njoro & Miss Kirui on the Words on Wellness Podcast
It’s the end of February and Charity Kirui, a runner and content creator, has just completed a refreshing 10 KM in Karura Forest. She then does her content shoot with her friend and fellow runner. Today, her video is a jab at everyone who went to Moshi, Tanzania, for the Kilimanjaro Marathon. Later on, when she gets home, she edits it, then uploads it with the title “That one hater that didn’t go to Kili Marathon” and a relatable caption about the comments runners who didn’t go for the marathon are likely to make. The likes and comments on her Instagram post from her followers start rolling in.
That video of the one hater who didn’t go to the Kili marathon went viral among East Africa’s running community, etching her, her Instagram and TikTok profiles in the minds of many.
When Miss Kirui is not creating content about her running, workouts, yoga or hiking, navigating the world of Fitness & Health, she is Dr. Charity (Chepkemoi) Kirui, a Medical Officer at the Longisa County Referral Hospital, Bomet, with experience working with public and private hospitals.
While speaking to me on my podcast, Words on Wellness with Kenyanpoet, Charity remembers vividly what got her into running. An anxiety attack during the COVID-19 epidemic induced a countrywide lockdown. It was her niece who, in an attempt to cheer her up, shot her first ‘content videos’. Soon, she realised that she really enjoyed shooting and posting activity and solo banter videos. For her, recording herself living actively or sharing her quips or poking fun at some practices is a form of catharsis.
Clinton Njoro, popularly known as aka Skimo Njoro online, is an avid cyclist, a board member of Challenge Hunters and an equally passionate digital content creator who works in the aviation industry. In February this year, Skimo’s video commenting on the Thika Road vs Karen Billboards also went viral well beyond his cycling community fanbase.
Skimo Njoro & Miss Kirui are some of the most prolific content creators on fitness & wellness. Often self-trained, highly relatable, and unapologetically homegrown, they are changing the face of fitness. They’re bringing wellness into everyday conversation and breaking down the notion that you need to be elite to be fit. And now, from office workers to artists, young parents to retirees, wellness is being championed across demographics.
Social media and digital platforms have played a crucial role in shaping narratives and trends. Fitness tracking apps, Strava groups, virtual challenges, and WhatsApp accountability groups are building strong communities around shared goals.
Still, wellness remains a classed conversation in many ways, and there’s still work to be done to democratize fitness.
Kenyanpoet Wellness is a storytelling agency that fuels active living. We develop and deliver strategic digital content campaigns, cross-platform activations, and audience growth & engagement for brands and organisations seeking to reach people with active lifestyles ranging from running, walking, hiking, cycling, CrossFit, endurance sports, and yoga.
For partnerships, enquiries or wellness stories, email us; wellness(at)kenyanpoet(dot)com