Male athletes compete in the 42km race/ TEDDY MULEI
Of those, 1,750 signed up for the marathon (42km), while 5,050 registered for the half marathon (21km).
The largest field was in the 10km race, which attracted 6,550 runners, while the 5km Family Fun Run drew 4,100 participants.
"This has been a very successful marathon. The Nairobi City Marathon is a sensational race and, as a ministry and government, we will continue supporting it," Mvurya said.
He pointed to Kenya's dominance in world distance running, citing Sabastian Sawe's historic performance at the London Marathon in April.
"Kenya is a global leader in the marathon. In London, Sabastian Sawe did wonders," he said.
Sawe became the first man in history to complete the classic distance in under two hours, clocking 1:59:30.
Mvurya noted that the Nairobi City Marathon continues to play a crucial role in unearthing the country's next generation of stars.
"Therefore, this calendar event is a very important event for us," he said. "We have new talents and stars who have emerged, and I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who participated."
The big entry, he said, reflects the deep-rooted running culture and enthusiasm for athletics among Kenyans.
"This year we had a registration of over 17,000 participants and we are happy about the kind of attraction. It shows the level of excitement and inspiration that Kenyans have in marathons and athletics," he added.
"We also had international athletes who were here, and that is a big thing."
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The CS further highlighted the marathon's growing significance as a sports tourism asset.
"This City Marathon is an advertisement for our country because tourism is also benefiting from it."
As Kenya intensifies its bid to host the 2029 or 2031 World Athletics Championships, Mvurya said the successful staging of events such as the Nairobi City Marathon strengthens the country's credentials.
"Kenya is a global leader in athletics and we have placed a bid to host the World Championships in 2029 or 2031," he observed.
"Our organisation of the Nairobi City Marathon and other premier events such as the Kip Keino Classic is helping build our case."
Former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president Paul Tergat praised the depth of talent on display, stressing the need for more competition opportunities.
"We have so much talent in this country; exposure is what we are lacking," he said. "When we have more competitions like this, we are giving our sportsmen and women an opportunity to showcase their abilities and remain active throughout the year."
Tergat was particularly impressed by the overwhelming turnout.
"The number of people who registered really excited me. We have never seen such numbers. We are happy that people in Kenya are embracing sports and fitness," he added.
Race director Barnaba Korir revealed that organisers are already targeting even bigger participation figures next year.
"We had very beautiful weather today. The event is growing every year and we will continue building on that growth. I am sure next year we will have even more runners," he said.
