The Nairobi City Marathon has reached a major milestone ahead of its fourth edition, with over 15,000 participants already registered, the highest in the event’s history. Organizers expect the number to rise to 16,000 by Thursday, with only 4km fun run slots remaining.
Race Director Kennedy Tanui hailed the surge in participation as a sign of the marathon’s rapid growth since its launch in May 2022. “The marathon has grown in leaps and bounds, offering scenic views and unique experiences. This year we’ve recorded our highest number yet — up from 13,000 last year,” Tanui said.
The majority of participants (13,379) are local athletes, but the race has drawn international runners from 75 countries, including China, India, and the UK, underlining Kenya’s rising influence in the global road racing scene.
The event will feature elite athletes such as U.S.-based Edward Cheserek, two-time Paris Marathon winner Paul Lonyangata, Sandrafelis Chebet, and Philomena Cheyech. Races will include the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km road race, and the 4km fun run.
Unlike previous editions that started at Nyayo Stadium, this year’s races will kick off at Uhuru Park due to ongoing renovations. The course will primarily utilize the Nairobi Expressway, which will be closed from James Gichuru to JKIA between Saturday 10 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. Additional road closures will affect Waiyaki Way, Museum Hill, and Mombasa Road intersections.
Athletics Kenya President Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei praised the event’s expanding global reach. “We aim to become a reference marathon in Africa. Nairobi is increasingly attractive to runners worldwide,” he said, encouraging locals to show strong support.
This year’s theme, “I Love Nairobi – Run the City You Love,” promotes urban pride and environmental responsibility. Sustainability partners such as UNEP, SEI, CIFOR-ICRAF, and Roam are involved in green mobility efforts and real-time air quality monitoring along the race course.
“SEI Africa will support air quality monitoring to ensure the marathon aligns with the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy and the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action goals,” said Anderson Kehbila, Programme Leader for Energy and Climate Change at SEI Africa.
A total prize pool of Ksh 24 million is up for grabs, with the marathon winners each taking home Ksh 3.5 million.
National Police Service spokesperson Caroline Jerop urged Nairobi residents to plan ahead and expect traffic disruptions during the event.
Written By Rodney Mbua
