More than 100 nationalities, over 400 elite athletes and record KES 273 million in sponsorship
underpin the 23rd edition
NAIROBI, KENYA, 25 October 2026 – Abraham Kiptum and Mercy Rotich claimed the men’s and
women’s 42km titles, respectively, at the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, while Nahason
Kipsang and Orba Chemurgor won the corresponding 21km Half Marathon titles, Alfred Kimani and
Joy Cheptoyek triumphed in the 10km race, and Samuel Kuria and Mercyline Ajenjo took the 21km
wheelchair titles.
A KES 11.24 million prize purse rewarded performances across the race programme, led by KES 2
million first-place awards in the 42km Full Marathon. Winners in both the 21km Half Marathon and
wheelchair race received KES 300,000, while the 10km champions earned KES 200,000. Team
competition also shared in the rewards, with KES 100,000 allocated to each winning Corporate Relay
and PWD team.
The event brought together 30,700 participants representing more than 100 nationalities, including
over 400 elite athletes. Backed by record sponsorship of KES 273 million, it combined elite racing and
mass participation along Nairobi’s Southern Bypass, with views of Nairobi National Park.
The marathon raised KES 76 million through registration fees, all of which will go to community
programmes supported by the Standard Chartered Foundation, which focuses on helping young
people learn, earn and grow through education, employability and entrepreneurship. This brings the
total funds raised since the marathon’s inception to KES 596 million. The funds will support initiatives
that expand economic opportunities, particularly for young people, women and persons with
disabilities.
“This marathon brings the world to Nairobi and turns a shared passion for running into opportunities
that last beyond race day. Runners from more than 100 nationalities demonstrate sport’s power to
connect people; the funds they help raise support young people to build skills, find employment and
grow businesses through the Standard PUBLIC
Chartered Foundation. That is the legacy our runners, sponsors, partners
and volunteers are building together,” said Birju Sanghrajka, CEO,
Standard Chartered Kenya.
Behind the scale of participation was a focus on the individual runner’s experience. This year’s support
measures included 19 hydration stations, roaming bicycle medics, dedicated muscle relief stations,
improved post-race recovery services and downloadable digital finisher certificates.
“The strength of an international marathon is not just the size of its field, but the quality of the
experience and the integrity of the competition. From elite athletes chasing a podium place to
recreational runners pursuing a personal goal, every participant deserves dependable support. Our
focus was on getting the essentials right: accurate timing, medical care, hydration and recovery,” said
David Mwindi, Chairman of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Local Organising Committee.
“The marathon’s World Athletics Road Race Label reflects the standards upheld across course
measurement, timing, medical support and anti-doping procedures. Working with the Anti-Doping
Agency of Kenya, selected top finishers underwent testing in line with race regulations, supporting fair
competition and the integrity of the sport.”
In a further commitment to environmental sustainability, every finisher received a tree seedling to
plant, contributing to the organisers’ target of planting 40,000 trees in partnership with Nairobi City
County. Other measures included waste segregation, recycling and efforts to reduce single-use plastics.
The 2026 registration profile showed women in the majority, with 15,796 registered runners (51.5 per
cent of all registrations) compared with 14,904 men (48.5 per cent). Millennials accounted for 15,544
registrations (50.6 per cent), Gen X accounted for 3,782 (12.3 per cent), Gen Z for 10,175 (33.1 per
cent) and Gen Alpha for 920 (3.0 per cent), while 86 per cent of registered participants were aged 45
and below.
Demand for places emerged months before race day: registration closed in July after more than 30,700
entries filled the available slots. That early response, alongside the international field and sponsor
backing, framed an event whose appeal extended beyond the contest for podium places.
