At first glance, Peter Kamande Githuku blends in with dozens of determined athletes sprinting through the rolling hills of Murang’a.
But a closer look reveals something extraordinary: at 68 years old, the father of 12 is still pounding the tarmac alongside runners young enough to be his grandchildren, chasing his dream of becoming a marathoner of international repute.
Behind the weathered face and silver hair is a man who refuses to let age define his destiny.
We caught up with Kamande during a local marathon, where his wiry frame and unrelenting stamina carried him steadily past the 10-kilometre mark.
His eyes sparkled with the same energy that propelled him when he first signed up for the Ndakaini Half Marathon at the age of 62.
“I started running at the Ndakaini half marathon with the 10 kilometers stretches. One day I even finished number 20, and that encouraged me to keep running,” he recalls.
That particular finish remains one of his proudest moments, etched deeply in his memory, as that was the beginning of his fame.
“Not only did I beat hundreds of younger runners, but for the first time in my life I saw myself on TV due to the stellar performance in that race.”
“I was ecstatic. I could not believe it and it gave me so much motivation to continue,” he says.
Since then, Kamande has participated in several marathons across the county, at times pushing himself to complete 21 kilometers—a distance that many younger athletes struggle to endure.
For him, running is more than a sport. It is a lifeline to health, discipline, and purpose.
“I don’t fall sick. I am living very healthy because of running, as I also avoid substances that would affect my stability like cigarettes and even alcohol,” he says.
A father of six boys and six girls, Kamande believes physical exercise is key not only for individuals but also for society.
He urges elderly men and women to lace up their sneakers and join him on the road, convinced that running is a powerful antidote to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
“If aged people run, the homes will be busy because they will be engaged. They will not waste away in alcohol dens, also if you cannot run like me, you can at least walk,” he says persuasively.
Kamande trains regularly at Kenol’s Kimorori grounds and Thika, where his presence has become a source of inspiration for younger runners.
He admits that competing with youth is not easy, but the challenge fuels his ambition rather than deters it.
“I may not be the fastest, but I am determined and even when I’m competing with the young men and women, I remind myself that age is just but a number,” he notes.
His vision, however, stretches beyond local marathons. He dreams of running in international competitions, particularly in the United States, where he hopes to test his endurance on the global stage.
“I ask people of goodwill and companies to support and sponsor me because I have a vision to go to America and make our country shine,” he appeals.
His story reflects resilience and the transformative power of discipline—a message especially poignant in a society grappling with lifestyle-related health crises.
Medical experts have long warned that sedentary lifestyles are fueling a surge in non-communicable diseases.
Kamande believes his journey proves that simple, consistent exercise can change lives and clearly at nearly seven decades his health is robust, his mind sharp, and his resolve unshaken.
As he jogs past the finish line, his breathing heavy but steady, one cannot help but admire the spirit of a man who, at 68, continues to push his limits.
By Florence Kinyua
