The 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is heading towards its biggest edition yet, with a record 30,700 runners registered and more than 200 elite athletes from 102 nationalities expected to take part in the 25 October race at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
The growing scale of the event has been matched by unprecedented backing from sponsors and partners, with a record KES 273 million committed towards this year’s marathon.
Standard Chartered has contributed KES 130 million, while sponsors have provided a further KES 143 million through cash and in-kind support. The investment is expected to play a key role in delivering a safe, memorable and world-class experience for the more than 30,000 runners expected on the starting line.
The increased support was highlighted during a breakfast appreciation event held for the marathon’s sponsors and partners, recognising their contribution to an event whose influence continues to extend beyond race day.
The 2026 edition has attracted 56 sponsors, up from 43 in 2025, representing a 30 per cent increase in the number of supporting partners. The combined sponsorship value is also 17 per cent higher than the KES 233 million secured last year and 58 per cent above the KES 173 million raised in 2024.
Local Organising Committee chairman David Mwindi said the record investment demonstrates the collective commitment behind the marathon and its wider impact.
“This record KES 273 million investment reflects the shared commitment of Standard Chartered and our sponsors to delivering a world-class marathon with lasting impact,” Mwindi said.
On the course, participants will start and finish at Uhuru Gardens, with the route taking runners through the Southern Bypass. The programme will feature the 42-kilometre full marathon, 21-kilometre half marathon and 10-kilometre road race, alongside a 21-kilometre wheelchair race.
The event will also cater for recreational runners and families through the 5-kilometre family fun run, while the CEO Challenge and Corporate Challenge will add another dimension to the day, bringing businesses and their teams into the celebrations.
The presence of more than 200 elite athletes from 102 nationalities is expected to add further international depth to an event already attracting unprecedented mass participation.
With record entries, a larger group of sponsors and KES 273 million in financial and in-kind support, the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is set to offer more than a day of racing. It is increasingly becoming a platform that brings together elite sport, mass participation, business, community engagement and broader social impact.
As October 25 draws closer, attention will turn to the Kenya’s capital for the elite line-ups, the athletes seeking honours across the various distances and the stories that will unfold while thousands of recreational runners prepare to make their own mark on what promises to be a landmark edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
SOURCE: MY BEST RUNS
