Turkana County Launches Traditional Sports Festival Featuring Archery, Wrestling & Camel Racing

Turkana County hosted the first-ever Lake Turkana Cultural & Traditional Sports Festival on January 25, 2025, reviving indigenous disciplines like *Ngitur* (stick fighting), camel racing, and longbow archery. Over 5,000 participants from 12 communities competed, with elders judging technique and cultural fidelity. The event—part of Kenya’s *Heritage Sports Revival Initiative*—included workshops on oral history and eco-tourism linkages. Winner of the elite camel race, 68-year-old warrior Lomoruk Lotome, rode *Naduk* to victory over 15km in 23:17. UNESCO consultants attended, recommending its nomination for Intangible Cultural Heritage status. County Executive for Sports, Esther Ekal, announced annual funding of KSh 20 million. Our ancestors were athletes too, she said.