Zetech University, in partnership with Sun Rays Foundation, hosted the “Cycling for Peace” ride on 31st January 2026 at the Technology Park Mang’u Campus. The initiative formed part of the East Africa Sports Diplomacy & “Play for Peace” Youth Tournament. This regional programme brought together young leaders, athletes, and peace advocates from across East Africa.
Zetech University has long championed peace as a core institutional value, advocating for dialogue, unity, and youth leadership through education, mentorship, and community engagement. The Cycling for Peace movement translated these values into action by using sport as a platform to foster social cohesion, healthy living, and cross-border collaboration among young people.
Speaking during the event, Prof. Njenga Munene, Vice Chancellor of Zetech
University, emphasised the role of universities in shaping peaceful societies. “At Zetech University, we believe that education must go beyond the classroom to contribute to peace, leadership, and sustainable development actively. The Cycling for Peace initiative demonstrates how sport and youth engagement can bridge divides, inspire dialogue, and cultivate a generation committed to unity and ethical leadership across our region,” he said.
The event convened young leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside High Excellency Ambassadors from Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, county leadership, institutional partners, and community stakeholders. Their participation underscored the tournament’s growing recognition as a platform for people-to-people diplomacy and a practical model for engaging youth in conversations on peace and development.
Delivering the keynote address and commissioning the Cycling for Peace initiative, Prof. PLO Lumumba underscored the importance of structured youth training and ethical formation as foundations for sustainable peace.
“Peace is not an accident; it is the product of deliberate training, discipline, and ethical leadership. When we invest in the moral and intellectual development of our young people through platforms such as sport, we prepare them not merely to compete, but to coexist, to collaborate, and to lead our region with integrity. Sports diplomacy offers a classroom without walls—where values are taught, character is shaped, and unity is forged,” Prof. Lumumba said.
The Executive Director of Sun Rays Foundation, Mr Simon Mikanipare, highlighted the power of sport as a tool for diplomacy and social transformation. “Sport speaks a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and politics. Through initiatives like Cycling for Peace, we are creating safe spaces for young people to engage, learn from one another, and become ambassadors of peace within their communities and beyond,” he noted.
Through this initiative, Zetech University advocated for peace by providing young people with mentorship and leadership development opportunities, creating platforms for cross-cultural dialogue and regional integration, and promoting ethical leadership and civic responsibility among its students and the broader community. The ride also contributed to environmental stewardship, complementing the tournament’s tree-planting initiatives and broader sustainability agenda.
The Cycling for Peace ride was part of a six-day programme held from 26th to 31st January 2026, featuring football tournaments, plenary sessions on peace and diplomacy, mentorship forums, and high-level diplomatic engagement. The presence of the High Excellency Ambassadors underscored the tournament’s diplomatic significance and its growing relevance as a people-to-people diplomacy platform. Their engagement reinforced the role of sports and youth dialogue in strengthening regional cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and cross-border partnerships, while amplifying youth voices within formal peace and development spaces.