PuraVida Sports

On a cool, mist-veiled July morning in Nairobi, the city’s heartbeat pulsed to the rhythm of thousands of pounding footsteps. 

Among them, slicing through the elite field of the Nairobi City Marathon 10km race was a lesser-known figure—24-year-old Zachariah Kirika—who, with grit and grace, surged to a remarkable third-place finish, clocking a time just under 28 minutes.

For most spectators, Kirika’s name may have been unfamiliar. But to those who know his story, his moment on the podium was no fluke—it was a breakthrough, hard-earned and deeply symbolic. 

His path to success is not a tale of privilege or polished training academies. It is one of raw determination, born out of scarcity and discipline, carved through a life that started far from any finish line.

Quiet Beginnings in Muthara

Kirika was born and raised in Muthara village, tucked in the heart of Murang’a County, where opportunity is often a whisper, not a roar. 

The firstborn in a hand-to-mouth household—his father a local carpenter and his mother a full-time homemaker—Kirika grew up carrying responsibilities early. 

“I grew up helping on the farm, taking care of goats, fetching water. Life wasn’t easy, but we made it work,” he recalls from the peaceful grounds of the Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Iten, where he now sharpens his craft.

His first brush with structured movement and discipline wasn’t through athletics, but through karate—a passion ignited in the dusty alleyways of nearby Maraba when he was 13.

Karate: The First Discipline

“I used to watch older boys practicing karate in the evenings. No uniforms, no mats, just grit and spirit,” Kirika says, a flicker of nostalgia in his voice. 

Drawn by the fluidity and focus of the martial artists, he eventually joined them, immersing himself in a world of kata forms and sparring routines. 

“Karate taught me respect, mental toughness, and how to handle pain. That stayed with me.”

Even in high school, as he juggled his studies with odd jobs to support his family, karate remained a grounding force. But after graduating in 2020, college wasn’t an option—money was tight, and the future uncertain. That’s when his story took an unexpected turn.

Pivot to Running

“I used to run to stay fit for karate,” Kirika says. “One day, I entered a 5km fun run nearby and finished in the top 10. People were shocked. They told me, ‘You’ve got the legs for this.’”

What began as a test of fitness soon became a mission. Without a coach, proper gear, or nutrition plan, he began experimenting with distances and workouts. But talent can only take an athlete so far—support is the engine that drives potential into performance.

That engine came in the form of a referral to the Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika, a unique development space founded by American running visionary Bob Anderson and managed in Kenya by Christopher Kamande. 

Designed to nurture gifted but underserved athletes, KATA became the oxygen Kirika had been gasping for.

Rebuilding as a Runner at KATA

“KATA was a turning point,” he says. “I finally had structure, training, meals, mentors, and belief.”

At KATA, Kirika learned to transition from martial artist to distance athlete. His days were now filled with tempo runs instead of kata drills, and long hill repeats in place of high kicks. Surrounded by fellow dreamers and guided by coaches who understood the demands of the road, Kirika began to shave seconds off his times—and build something far more important: confidence.

“We focused on building endurance, pacing, and race psychology,” says a KATA coach. 

“He had natural rhythm and mental discipline—traits from karate that adapted perfectly to competitive running.”

Nairobi City Marathon: A Defining Moment

By the time the Nairobi City Marathon came calling in mid-2025, Kirika was no longer just experimenting with road races—he was ready to challenge seasoned elites. The race is one of Kenya’s most prestigious urban contests, and the 10km category featured a tough, tactical field.

“I was nervous, but my training kicked in,” Kirika says. 

“At around 7km, I told myself, ‘This is your fight—don’t let go.’”

And he didn’t. With steely focus and sharp race awareness, Kirika stayed with the lead pack, surging at the right moments and digging deep when others faded. His third-place finish not only earned him applause but respect—his name suddenly on the radar of fans and managers alike.

Beyond the Podium: A Bigger Dream

Despite the breakthrough, Kirika is far from satisfied. “I’m grateful, but hungry,” he says. “This was a milestone, not the destination.” He and the KATA team are now eyeing half marathons and full marathon debuts in the coming seasons.

“Kirika has great biomechanics and mental resilience,” says Kamande. “We’re gradually building his aerobic base for longer distances. His best days are ahead.”

Still grounded, Kirika continues to communicate regularly with his parents back in Muthara. “Tell them I’m doing something meaningful,” he says. “I haven’t forgotten where I came from. I’m running with purpose—for them, for myself, and for every kid who thinks success is only for the rich.”

Anatomy of a New Champion

Kirika’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s emblematic of a new generation of Kenyan athletes rising from overlooked backgrounds, powered by grassroots academies like KATA and unshakable self-belief. 

While the headlines often celebrate the big names with shoe deals and global medals, athletes like Kirika are quietly proving that greatness can be forged in silence—and explode into brilliance with the right support.

As twilight falls on the Thika training fields, Kirika laces up for another evening run. 

The boy who once shadowed karate kicks barefoot in Maraba is now a force on the tarmac, chasing finish lines and rewriting what’s possible.

From fighter to finisher, from village fields to urban podiums—Zachariah Kirika is not just running races. 

He’s running toward destiny.