Over 21,000 runners from more than 90 countries are set to participate in the 20th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, which will take place at Uhuru Gardens this Sunday. The marathon features a prize purse of Sh11 million.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Peter Gitau, expressed his excitement about the diversity of participants. He mentioned that the marathon has united over 270,000 runners from various backgrounds since its inception two decades ago.
The marathon is categorized into five events: the 42km and corporate relay, the 21km wheelchair race, the 21km race, the 10km race, and a 5km family race. All races will start and finish at Uhuru Gardens along Langata Road.
The 42km and corporate relay will commence at 6 am, followed by the 21km wheelchair race at 5:45 am, the 21km race at 6:45 am, the 10km race at 8 am, and the 5km family race at 9:30 am.
Gitau praised the corporate sector for their extensive participation, making up 78 per cent of the participants, and thanked companies for encouraging their employees to register for the marathon.
Runners have been advised to use the southern bypass to manage road closures and detours and ensure smooth traffic flow. National Traffic Commandant Mary Omari shared details of road closures and detours, emphasizing their importance for the safety and success of the marathon.
Gitau also assured that the marathon would run with minimal hitches and provide a world-class experience for all participants. He noted that the full marathon winners would receive Sh2 million each for both the men’s and women’s categories.
Furthermore, Gitau mentioned that a total of Sh672 million had been raised over 19 marathon editions. These funds have been used for various corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Future Makers program.
