A record 30,000 runners from 92 nationalities will participate in the 22nd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon scheduled for October 26, at Uhuru Gardens.
The annual event has attracted sponsorship worth Sh233 million, which comes ahead of the registration deadline on October 10.
This year’s sponsorship reflects a 35 per cent increase from the Sh 173 million raised in 2024.
Last year’s race saw Ronald Kurgat win the men’s 42km marathon in 2:13:05 as Gladys Chemutai ruled the women’s race in 2:31:52.
Vincent Mutai and Gladys Koech took the men’s and women’s 21km titles in 1:03:27 and 1:12:10, respectively, while the 10km crowns went to Shadrack Musyoka (29:50) and Emmy Chemutai (36:17).
“We are proud to see both sponsors and participant numbers grow significantly this year. This strong turnout is proof of the collective will to transform lives, nurture talent, and drive positive change through the Futuremakers initiative,” Local Organising Committee 9LOC) chairperson, David Mwindi said.
Standard Chartered led the sponsors with a contribution of Sh 130 million, while KWAL secured naming rights to the 21km race with Sh 10 million.
Prudential, the official sponsor of the 5km Family Fun Run, committed Sh 9.5 million in cash and kind, including insurance cover for all participants.
“Through the Futuremakers initiative, the marathon raised Sh48 million in 2024, which was directly invested in Futuremakers programmes. This year’s edition aims to raise over Sh75 million,” said Joyce Kibe, Standard Chartered Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand Marketing.
“The initiative has impacted more than 55,000 underserved young people since 2019, including supporting over 1,300 microbusinesses at an investment of Sh133 million in a new three-year employability programme launched in 2024.”
Other major sponsors include Anta Sports (Sh5 million), EABL (Sh3.5 million) and UNDP (Sh3.2 million).
Healthcare partners AAR Healthcare, Aga Khan University Hospital, AMREF, and Osteocare will support medical needs, while hydration and nutrition will be provided by Coca-Cola, ORS, Reload, Tetra Pak, and Tawi.
Logistics and technology partners such as Eden Cabs, BasiGo, PTG, Little Limited, and NTT Data will ensure smooth operations, while retail and consumer brands, including Carrefour, Molfix/Molped, Healthy U, La Roche, Ariel & Downy, Rohto, Centrum, Razco, Fitbeat, and Uchumi, have also joined the fray.
The marathon’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is being supported by Light for the World and CBM Christian Blind Mission, ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Kisskids will provide mothers’ rooms along the route, while TakaTaka Solutions and Unicaf will lead sustainability efforts through waste management and eco-friendly practices.
Sports tourism will be catered for by Magical Kenya, Kenya Airways, and Bonfire Adventures, while long-standing partners Subaru and G4S will provide lead car and security services.
“Our partnership with the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon reflects our commitment to initiatives that deliver lasting impact. While we support elite athletes chasing global recognition, we also want to inspire families and communities to embrace active, healthy lifestyles,” said Bernard Kinyanjui, Prudential Head of Corporate Affairs.
Hosted by Nairobi County and the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum, the marathon will feature 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km Family Fun Run races alongside competitions for persons with disabilities, promising a world-class experience with enhanced hydration, medical care, logistics, and security.
