The 22nd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has attracted over 16,000 participants within the first month of registration, setting a strong pace toward its 30,000-runner goal before the September 30, 2025 deadline.
The race is set for October 26 at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.
So far, 20 elite athletes have confirmed for the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race, and 21km wheelchair race.
Organisers expect 250 elite runners—up from 174 in 2024—and have already recorded 363 international entries. Last year’s race saw more than 1,600 international participants in a 25,000-plus crowd.
This year’s event aims to raise over KES 70 million for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, a global initiative supporting youth—especially women and persons with disabilities—through education, jobs, and entrepreneurship. The 2024 edition raised KES 48 million.
The marathon will feature seven race categories: full marathon, half marathon, 10km, 21km wheelchair race, 5km Family Fun Run, CEO Challenge, and Corporate Challenge.
Since its inception, the event has hosted over 300,000 runners and raised KES 850 million for community projects across Kenya.
To improve race-day experience, organisers have introduced a dedicated finish line for elite marathoners, separate finish points for the 21km and 10km races, and expanded the runner walk-off area by 30%.
More hydration and medal staff have been added, along with a new photo-finish zone for high-quality race photos.
The marathon will follow the rules of Athletics Kenya (AK), the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
