At 77, Rwanda’s oldest marathoner says he won’t stop running

At 77 years old, Manasse Gakiga carries his years with quiet dignity, and unmatched endurance. When we found him at Kagarama Secondary School, where he works as a school nurse, Gakiga beamed with the energy and exuberance of a 40-year-old. The long-serving school nurse showed no signs of fatigue or exhaustion, despite having participated in a marathon just the day before. For a man his age, one might expect him to be at home nursing cramped legs. Instead, the veteran nurse was back at the Kicukiro-based school, in the dispensary where he regularly attends to sick students – a job he has done for over two decades. The father of four is not your average septuagenarian. While many of his peers are retired or dealing with age-related challenges, Gakiga continues to defy the odds, living each day on his own terms – running. On Sunday, June 8, Gakiga laced up his running shoes once again and participated in the Kigali International Peace Marathon, for the umpteenth time. ALSO READ: Photos Rwanda’s Niyonkuru strikes gold as Kenyas Korir reclaims Kigali marathon title He was among thousands of participants who took to the streets of Kigali to showcase their running prowess, whether in the half or full marathon. However, his story stood out – not just for his endurance, but as a shining example of lifelong health. In an interview with The New Times, Gakiga, who will turn 78 on June 15, said that running has always been his passion. “I’m very passionate about sports, especially running – I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I truly love it,” he said. “This isn’t my first time participating in the Kigali International Peace Marathon. I started taking part in 2014. I didn’t go in 2015 because I had a very bad flu,” he added, noting that the only other time he missed the marathon was during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been a regular participant since then – until this year, when he claimed the top spot in the 70-to-80 age category. In fact, he clocked a better time this year than he did last year, a feat he attributes to regular training and favourable weather conditions. “What I can say about this most recent marathon is that I felt especially strong than usual. The weather was also very good,” he said. “Usually, we run under the sun, but this time, the sun only came out when I had about six kilometres left to finish. Even then, I still had energy left by the time I crossed the finish line. Honestly, I felt like this was one of my best performances ever.” He noted that the race began at 8:30 a.m., and he finished exactly at 10:30 a.m. “That means I used less time than I did last year. I think I ran for 2 hours and 7 minutes last year, but this time it was less than that,” Gakiga said with a smile. Training, discipline, routine and determination Gakiga credits his success to consistent training. Each morning on his way to work, and sometimes in the evenings on his way home – he runs and walks instead of boarding a bus or motorbike. Between his home in Zindiro, Kimironko, and his workplace in Kagarama, there is a distance of about 18 kilometers, which he utilises well. As such, by the time the marathon comes around, he is already in peak condition. “I don’t wait for special events to train,” he explains. His daily routine keeps him in shape; even missing a week’s run makes him feel physically uneasy. Through his work as a nurse at school, he sees first-hand how lifestyle habits impact health. He notes that students often return from holidays with coughs and flu, underlining the link between negligence and vulnerability. For him, running is not just a pastime – it’s a preventive measure. Overcoming the pain of a sciatic nerve Not every run has been easy. In 2013, after experiencing sharp pain in his left leg, Gakiga suffered from sciatic nerve complications – a major turning point in his life. “One time, while taking a shower, I felt a burning pain in my left leg. It was the sciatic nerve. I took painkillers, but they didn’t help, I could barely walk. That was one of the worst physical experiences I’ve ever had,” he recalls. At the time, he used to run from his home in the Nyamirambo Sector of Nyarugenge District to school once a week – usually on Sundays, and take a bus back home. After suffering a sciatic nerve attack, he staggered to the road and caught a bus to visit a doctor friend in Biryogo, also located in Nyamirambo. “I was limping badly, and the doctor gave me an injection. While I was waiting at the reception, I couldn’t even walk. They had to carry me out – one person holding each side, and take me to University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). It was a Sunday,” he remembers. At CHUK, they had to put him in a wheelchair, and he was told it would be difficult to see a doctor on a Sunday unless he followed a special procedure. “But right there, the medicine started to work – I could feel some relief. I stood up and told them I could walk, but they didn’t want me to fall. Eventually, I walked on my own and bought more medicine from a pharmacy,” he says. He was advised to go easy on running and was told it would take about a year to fully recover. Instead of stopping physical activity altogether, he replaced his runs with daily walks. “I would walk every day, from where we lived near the stadium to Camp Kigali, and then get a bus. I did that for a whole year. At the end of the year, I said, ‘Thank God,’ and I resumed running.” “But the pain from sciatic nerve inflammation is the worst pain,” he adds, noting that the experience taught him a lot. “It was so bad, I thought I might end up using a cane for life. But I prayed to God and said, ‘If my leg recovers fully, I’ll run again.’ And that’s exactly what happened.” That was between 2013 and 2014. In 2015, he ran his first marathon. Since then, he has participated in marathons regularly, and to this day, he has never experienced that pain again. ALSO READ: Ruvubi: The 2015 Kigali Peace Marathon hero His determination returned. After rounds of treatment, he began walking as a form of exercise, gradually rebuilding strength until he could run again. “By February 2014,” he recalls, “I had regained full use of my leg and started running again.” Today, the pain has not returned. Gakiga’s story stands as a testament: exercise – even after injury, can restore both body and spirit but only if one perseveres. A message of health and hope When asked what keeps him running, Manasse is clear: “I do it because I love it—not to win medals.” He thrives in community events like the monthly Car-Free Day and wishes the Peace Marathon could be held twice a year. His favourite moment? Running through the streets of Kigali, free of cars and alive with people of all ages. He urges Rwandans to engage in sports: “Start small—don’t just wake up and hit the road. Build up gradually. I know many pastors lead us in churches, but exercise is another form of worship – worship of one’s health.” ALSO READ: More games introduced at Kigali Car-Free-day He cites his own experience: staying active has helped him avoid illnesses like the flu, and his regular health check-ups consistently show clean results. Results and recognition The Kigali International Peace Marathon, held annually since 2005, attracts both domestic and international athletes for the full and half marathon events. Among all these international elites, Gakiga’s win in the 70–80 age group stands out even more powerfully. While elite men clocked in around 2 hours and 18 minutes, Gakiga completed the course in under 2 hours and 30 minutes – a personal triumph. Inspiration beyond the finish line Perhaps what makes Gakiga’s victory so special is not his speed – it’s his attitude. In his own words: “If we all embraced this chance our country offers—running on peaceful, safe roads—what joy it would bring.” He has seen street criticisms fade. New participants cheer him on with respect. His age no longer limits his ability – it defines his persistence. For those hesitant to start, Gakiga offers practical advice: stay hydrated, eat fruits and vegetables, and start exercising slowly but consistently. He warns that diseases like cancer thrive on inactivity. “You can’t expect to change overnight,” he says. “But through small, steady steps, health becomes attainable.” And his advice carries weight. At Car-Free Day events, he routinely gets his health checked – his blood pressure? Always perfect. Running through the generations For a man of 77, running may seem youthful. Yet for families, neighbours, and students who see him, Gakiga represents the possibility of better living at any age. He runs not to capture headlines, but simply to keep moving, and in doing so – inspires a nation. While the 2025 Peace Marathon crowned its elite, winners – the true champions are people like Gakiga, those who run for resilience, community, and hope. As he crosses the finish line, it’s no longer about race results. It’s a celebration of life lived in motion. Age may be a number – but with it comes the power to redefine it, step by step.

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