Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2026: October 25 Flagoff, KES 15M Prize Purse, Road Closure Guide
Nairobi is preparing for another major day of road racing as the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, bringing more than 30,000 runners onto the capital’s roads.
The race has grown into one of Kenya’s major mass-participation sporting events, combining elite competition with recreational running, wheelchair participation, corporate challenges and community initiatives.
Organisers say the 2026 edition has attracted a record 30,700 registered runners from 102 nationalities, alongside more than 200 elite athletes.
The official event website identifies the race as Kenya’s flagship road race, with the main courses starting outside Carnivore on Southern Bypass Road before finishing at Uhuru Gardens.
Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2026 date October 25
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2026 date October 25 falls on a Sunday, with runners expected at the Southern Bypass from the early hours of the morning.
The event features the 42km Full Marathon, 21km Half Marathon, 21km Wheelchair Race, 10km Road Race plus the 5km Family Fun Run. The wider programme also includes the CEO Challenge and Corporate Challenge.
All major race categories assemble outside Carnivore on Southern Bypass Road. The 42km, 21km, 10km and wheelchair races finish at Uhuru Gardens.
Nairobi Marathon 2026 start schedule
| Category | Start Time | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| 21km Wheelchair | 5:30 AM | Up to KSh300,000 first prize |
| 42km Full Marathon | 5:45 AM | KSh2 million first prize |
| 21km Half Marathon | 7:05 AM | KSh300,000 first prize |
| 10km Road Race | 8:45 AM | KSh200,000 first prize |
| 5km Family Fun Run | 10:00 AM | No competitive prize listed |
The official race schedule states that wheelchair athletes arrive at 4:45am and assemble at 5:10am. Full-marathon runners also arrive from 4:45am, with assembly at 5:35am before the 5:45am gun start.
The 21km field begins at 7:05am, followed by the 10km race at 8:45am. The 5km Family Fun Run has a rolling start at 10am.
KES 15 million prize money question
Prize money is one of the biggest attractions of the 2026 race.
The official Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon homepage currently displays KES15 million as the headline prize-money figure. However, the event’s dedicated prize-money page gives a KES12.4 million total prize purse distributed across race categories and genders.
That difference is worth highlighting for athletes and readers because the detailed prize schedule is the more specific source for individual awards.
The 42km men’s and women’s winners will each receive KSh2 million, with second place receiving KSh1 million and third place KSh500,000. The 21km men’s and women’s winners receive KSh300,000 each.
The 10km winners receive KSh200,000 each, while the wheelchair category also carries a KSh300,000 first prize for both men and women.
The published prize conditions also state that prize money is equal across male and female categories and can be withheld or recovered where an athlete is found to have violated anti-doping regulations.
World Athletics Label event standards
The 2026 race has been elevated to a World Athletics Road Race Label event, adding an international technical dimension to the competition.
The status means the marathon operates within recognised standards covering areas such as course measurement, timing, medical support and anti-doping.
The organisers’ 2026 runner’s guide states that the event follows guidelines from World Athletics, Athletics Kenya, AIMS and the Ministry of Health. Participants must complete the officially measured course and follow instructions from race officials, stewards and traffic police.
Medical preparation has also been expanded.
Organisers have announced 20 hydration stations, roaming bicycle medics, muscle-relief stations and enhanced post-race recovery services for this year’s field.
Such measures are particularly relevant to a Nairobi race that begins at altitude and attracts both elite athletes and thousands of recreational runners.
Anti-doping rules will also apply. The detailed prize regulations specifically state that awards may be withheld or recovered if a winner breaches World Athletics anti-doping requirements.
Southern Bypass route, Uhuru Gardens finish
The Nairobi marathon 42km route Southern Bypass Uhuru Gardens arrangement creates a point-to-point race rather than a traditional loop around the central business district.
Runners assemble outside Carnivore on Southern Bypass Road before heading onto the course. The finish for the 42km, 21km, 10km and wheelchair races is at Uhuru Gardens.
The Southern Bypass provides a distinctive backdrop, including sections with views towards Nairobi National Park.
The route also requires significant traffic planning because the race occupies roads normally used by thousands of motorists travelling between Nairobi’s southern, western and eastern corridors.
Nairobi marathon road closures October 25
Motorists should prepare for substantial restrictions beginning the night before race day.
The published 2026 road-closure schedule indicates that the Southern Bypass will close from 11pm on Saturday, October 24 until approximately 1:30pm on Sunday, October 25 in affected sections.
Traffic around the Southern Bypass, Langata Road and Mombasa Road interchanges will be diverted through alternative routes. The closure programme also provides diversion arrangements for traffic around the ICD turning point and sections connecting towards Waiyaki Way.
Drivers using the affected corridors should therefore plan their journeys before Saturday night rather than waiting until Sunday morning.
The race’s early start times also mean that traffic restrictions will begin well before most Nairobi residents normally start their Sunday journeys.
Marathon boosts Nairobi sports tourism
The economic impact of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon extends beyond the athletes.
More than 30,000 registered participants mean thousands of people travelling to Nairobi, buying food, using transport services, staying in hotels or guesthouses and purchasing running-related products.
Elite athletes arriving from different countries add another layer to the sports-tourism economy.
The marathon’s wider community programme also contributes to its economic and social footprint. Organisers have said they are targeting KSh76 million in fundraising for Standard Chartered Foundation programmes focused on education, employability and entrepreneurship for young people.
Environmental initiatives are also part of the 2026 programme, including a target of planting 50,000 tree seedlings across Nairobi in partnership with Nairobi City County.
The event therefore sits within a broader Kenyan sports-tourism story.
Kenya’s athletics heritage has become an increasingly valuable tourism asset, from elite training centres to major road races.
Read more about this wider opportunity in our analysis of the Eldoret Sports Tourism Drive.
The country’s athletics history also provides important context. Our feature on Kipchoge Keino’s 1968 Mexico City triumph examines the Olympic performance that became one of the defining moments in Kenya’s distance-running story.
What runners, motorists need to know
The 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon combines elite competition, mass participation, community fundraising and international race standards.
Runners should pay particular attention to their assigned assembly times because the earliest categories begin before sunrise.
Motorists face an equally important planning requirement, with road restrictions beginning late Saturday night and continuing into Sunday afternoon on affected sections.
The event’s World Athletics Road Race Label adds technical significance, while the growing international field reinforces Nairobi’s position as a destination for major road races.
With more than 30,000 runners expected on October 25, the challenge will extend beyond the finish line.
The marathon will test not only athletes but also Nairobi’s ability to manage transport, medical services, hospitality, security and a large-scale sporting event simultaneously.
