Nairobi City Marathon Transforms Into Global Sporting Movement With Record 17,000 Runners
Race Director Barnaba Korir, Paul Mutwii, and key partners during the launch of the Nairobi City Marathon, with a symbolic sponsorship cheque, as stakeholders reaffirm support for the growing event. (Photo by Sportcast Africa)
Organisers, sponsors, and stakeholders say the race is transforming Nairobi through sport, wellness, sustainability, and community inclusion
What began five years ago as an ambitious effort to give Kenya a marathon worthy of its global running reputation is rapidly evolving into one of Africa’s most ambitious urban sporting events, with organisers of the Nairobi City Marathon announcing a record 17,000 participants for this year’s sold-out edition.
Speaking during the official launch in Nairobi, race director Barnaba Korir said the marathon has grown into a defining symbol of the capital’s identity and ambition.
“The Nairobi City Marathon has become more than just a race. It has become a trademark of the city,” Korir said.
“It is the heartbeat of our city. Nairobi is vibrant, dynamic, ambitious, and unstoppable — and so is our marathon.”
The fifth edition of the race, to be staged along the Nairobi Expressway, has seen unprecedented demand, with registration closing within three weeks after hitting full capacity.
Korir noted that participation has grown steadily from 10,000 runners in the inaugural edition to 17,000 this year, underscoring Nairobi’s rising profile as a host city for major road races.
“It is not just a number. It is a statement,” he said.
“The world has taken notice of what we are doing here in Nairobi.”
Kenya’s Growing Ambition for Major City Marathons
The race is also set to feature a strong elite field of international and regional athletes, including marathoners with personal bests under 2:05, reinforcing Kenya’s ambition to build a city marathon that can stand alongside the world’s leading events.
“For many years, our athletes have dominated the major marathons across the world, but we had nothing to show here at home,” Korir said.
“Kenya is ready for the major marathons that we are organising.”
Paul Mutwii, Athletics Kenya competitions director and senior vice president, said the steady growth of the Nairobi City Marathon signals Kenya’s readiness to eventually host globally recognised city marathons by nurturing the Nairobi race into a premier event.
“Hosting a race like the Nairobi City Marathon is a sign that Kenya is headed towards hosting major city marathons in the future by nurturing this event,” Mutwii said.
He added that running along the expressway offers participants a unique experience and panoramic view of the city.
“Running along the expressway is an excursion where participants get a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of Nairobi city,” he said.
Sustainability and Inclusion at the Heart of the Event
Beyond elite competition, the marathon is increasingly being framed as a platform for infrastructure innovation, environmental awareness, youth inclusion, and corporate engagement.
Speaking on behalf of the Moja Expressway, PR and communications strategist Jeanne May Ongiyo said the organisation is playing a central role in ensuring the race meets global safety and environmental standards.
“We have to make sure that the athletes are safe and they are running on a road that actually meets the standards,” she said.
Ongiyo noted that technical preparations have included close coordination on road measurements and race logistics to ensure precision and athlete safety along the expressway corridor.
She also highlighted environmental sustainability efforts, including collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute to install air quality monitoring systems along the route.
“Air quality monitoring is part of making sure that as you are running, you are breathing quality air,” she said.
The marathon has also expanded its social impact footprint through youth engagement initiatives targeting children from informal settlements around Nairobi.
According to Ongiyo, 200 children from Mukuru Primary School and Kakuna Special School have been registered to participate through corporate social responsibility and ESG programmes.
“These are children from the informal settlements who only hear about the Expressway but don’t really understand what it is or how it operates,” she said.
Wellness, Manufacturing, and Corporate Participation
The event has additionally become a major platform for corporate wellness and community engagement.
National Bank of Kenya board member for marketing, digital, and corporate communications, Bernadette Ngara, said the bank’s long-term partnership with the race reflects a broader investment in people, health, and community cohesion.
“We have seen the beauty of investing long-term in people,” Ngara said.
“This marathon is touching the heartbeat of everybody in Nairobi.”
She added that participation in running and active lifestyles across Nairobi has increased significantly over the past five years.
“The wellness factor is very well taken care of by this marathon,” she said.
Corporate participation has also surged, with nearly 1,000 runners linked to CRBC/CIPC-affiliated teams taking part in this year’s race.
Meanwhile, Ursula Kevogo, representing Brava Foods, said the marathon is also serving as a platform to showcase Kenya’s growing beverage manufacturing sector and athlete support systems.
“This event is more than a race — it is a celebration of the entire beverage industry and a launchpad for our new hydration brand,” Kevogo said.
She noted that Brava Foods plans to supply hydration products across the race route to support runners throughout the competition.
“We want to ensure that every runner has the local energy needed to conquer the city challenge and reach the finish line,” she said.
Nairobi’s Marathon Vision Expands Beyond Sport
For organisers and partners, the marathon now represents far more than a race. It has become a convergence of sport, infrastructure, sustainability, manufacturing, tourism, and urban identity.
“This marathon is yours,” Korir told the Nairobi residents.
“We have to build together something that Kenyans will always be proud of.”