Benson Murkomen Tunyo and Emily Chepkemoi emerged victorious in the fourth edition of the Nairobi City Marathon on Sunday, braving chilly weather and a competitive international field to secure glory in Kenya’s capital.
Murkomen clocked 2:08:37, just 59 seconds shy of the course record, to clinch the men’s title and pocket KSh. 3.5 million, the top prize in what is now dubbed Africa’s most prestigious marathon.
It was a moment of redemption for the 30-year-old, who finished eighth in the 2023 edition and 12th at the Eldoret City Marathon earlier this year.
“I was behind at 21km, but my body responded well after 28km,” Murkomen said. “I trained hard, and this is a big moment. With this prize, I plan to change the lives of my parents.”
Justus Limo finished second in 2:08:47, followed closely by Kangogo Albert at 2:09:06.
In the women’s race, Chepkemoi delivered a commanding performance to win in 2:25:52, a personal triumph after several near misses. The 2024 Eldoret City Marathon champion credited endurance for her success. “I started slow but gained momentum. Once I took the lead, I didn’t look back,” she said.
Vivian Jerotich came second with 2:26:33, and Lucy Chelele took third in 2:26:37, collecting KSh. 2.25 million and KSh. 1.5 million respectively.
The half marathon saw Evans Kipchumba Kiyeng dominate the field with a time of 1:01:22, ahead of Stephen Kimutai and Nahason Kipsang.
This year’s marathon drew over 16,000 runners from 75 countries, winding through the scenic Nairobi Expressway, which provided a unique urban backdrop to a race fast becoming a global attraction.
