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Nairobi Marathon

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Nairobi Marathon
DateOctober
LocationNairobi, Kenya
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, Half marathon
Primary sponsorStandard Chartered
Established2003 (23 years ago) (2003)
Course recordsMen's: 2:10:12 (2009)
Kenya Moses Kigen
Women's: 2:24:31 (2023)
Kenya Evaline Chirchir
Official siteNairobi Marathon
Participants30,602 (2025)

The Nairobi Marathon is an annual road running competition over the marathon distance usually held in October in Nairobi, Kenya.[1] First held in 2003, the competition expanded and now includes a half marathon race along with the main race.[1]

It was part of "The Greatest Race on Earth", fully sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank. The other three legs of this four-marathon race were the Hong Kong Marathon, the Mumbai Marathon and the Singapore Marathon.

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2][3] The race returned in 2021 in a hybrid format, with a physical event capped at 2,500 elite athletes plus a virtual event for 13,500 additional participants, moved to the Southern Bypass and Carnivore Grounds.[4] The marathon received World Athletics accreditation as a World Road Race in 2022.[5] In 2019, Standard Chartered introduced its Futuremakers programme as the marathon's designated cause, succeeding the bank's earlier Seeing is Believing initiative.[6]

Its 20th edition, in October 2023, drew over 22,000 participants, including more than 73 elite athletes and 200 athletes with disabilities. Standard Chartered handed over KES 43,167,506 raised from the race to Futuremakers.[5] The 22nd edition, in 2025, drew a record 30,602 participants from over 90 countries, including more than 200 elite athletes and 184 athletes with disabilities.[7] According to a 2026 comparison by Fit Savanna, a Kenyan fitness and events site, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon ranked third among Kenyan marathons by published prize money that year, behind the Nairobi City Marathon and the Eldoret City Marathon, despite being the country's oldest major city marathon.[8] The Nairobi City Marathon's full-marathon prize purse is published at KES 22.82 million combined for men and women, with KES 3.5 million going to each winner, while the Eldoret City Marathon offers a combined purse of KES 18.03 million,[8] including KES 3.5 million to each winner,[9] compared with KES 2 million for each Standard Chartered winner.[10]

Course

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The official Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Runner's Guide includes maps of the race routes, including the 42 km marathon course.[11]

Since 2021, the marathon has started and assembled outside Carnivore Grounds (at the Cale entrance) on Southern Bypass Road, finishing at Uhuru Gardens.[11] The race previously started and finished at Nyayo National Stadium via Uhuru Highway and Mombasa Road, but moved when Uhuru Highway came under construction for the Nairobi Expressway.[4] The race includes 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and a 21 km wheelchair category alongside the marathon.[11]

Winners

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Alice Chelangat (pictured here at the 2007 Boston Marathon) was the inaugural women's marathon winner

Key:    Course record

Marathon

[edit]
Ed. Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a]
1 2003  Philip Kirui (KEN) 2:15:40  Alice Chelangat (KEN) 2:41:27
2 2004  Benjamin Kemboi (KEN) 2:11:50  Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 2:39:27
3 2005  Samson Barmao (KEN) 2:12:15  Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:36:08
4 2006  Hosea Rotich (KEN) 2:10:17  Irene Kosgei (KEN) 2:32:42
5 2007  John Thuita (KEN) 2:15:50  Rose Chesire (KEN) 2:44:14
6 2008  Samson Tuiyange (KEN) 2:10:30  Emmah Kiruki (KEN) 2:33:42
7 2009  Moses Kigen (KEN) 2:10:12  Irene Kosgei (KEN) 2:28:57
8 2010  David Barmasai (KEN) 2:10:31  Helena Kirop (KEN) 2:31:11
9 2011  Ernest Kebenei (KEN) 2:10:55  Margaret Toroitich (KEN) 2:30:17
10 2012  Wesley Langat (KEN) 2:10:40  Alice Chelangat (KEN) 2:28:04
11 2013  Kenneth Mungara (KEN) 2:11:40  Winfrida Kwamboka (KEN) 2:33:18
12 2014  Peter Kosgei (KEN) 2:12:24  Edith Irungu (KEN) 2:32:02
13 2015  Joshua Kipkorir (KEN) 2:13:25  Elizabeth Rumokol (KEN) 2:29:32
14 2016  Robert Kipkemboi (KEN) 2:13:27  Jane Seurey (KEN) 2:34:18
15 2017  Brimin Kipkorir (KEN) 2:12:39  Celestine Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:31:41
16 2018  Elisha Barno (KEN) 2:14:19  Josephine Chepkoech (KEN) 2:33:11
17 2019  Brimin Kipkorir (KEN) 2:10:43  Purity Jebichii (KEN) 2:30:34
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[2]
18 2021  Elisha Kiprop (KEN) 2:11:16  Valentine Kipketer (KEN) 2:30:02 [12]
19 2022  Elias Kemboi Chelimo (KEN) 2:10:22  Sheila Chepkech (KEN) 2:27:04 [13]
20 2023  Alphonce Kigen (KEN) 2:10:18  Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:24:31 [14]
21 2024  Ronald Kimeli Kurgat (KEN) 2:13:05[b]  Gladys Chemutai (KEN) 2:31:52 [15]
22 2025  Benard Chepkwony (KEN) 2:11:01  Hellen Chepkorir (KEN) 2:27:17 [16]

Half marathon

[edit]
Ed. Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a]
1 2004  Evans Cheruiyot (KEN) 1:04:21  Rita Jeptoo (KEN) 1:16:24
2 2005  Charles Kiama (KEN) 1:01:34  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 1:13:33
3 2006  Philemon Baaru (KEN) 1:01:21  Beatrice Rutto (KEN) 1:10:49
4 2007  Moses Kigen (KEN) 1:05:58  Alice Serser (KEN) 1:18:04
5 2008  Peter Chesang (KEN) 1:02:23  Paskalia Chepkorir (KEN) 1:11:07
6 2009  Ernest Kebenei (KEN) 1:01:54  Magdaline Chemjor (KEN) 1:12:18
7 2010  Michael Kiprop (KEN) 1:02:15  Chemtah Rionutukei (KEN) 1:12:47
8 2011  Dennis Kimetto (KEN) 1:01:31  Elizabeth Chelagat (KEN) 1:12:10
9 2012  Mathew Kiprotich (KEN) 1:02:19  Paskalia Chepkorir (KEN) 1:08:12
10 2013  Solomon Mutai (UGA) 1:02:55  Correti Jepkoech (KEN) 1:11:52
11 2014  Barselius Kipyego (KEN) 1:03:12  Lydia Wafula (KEN) 1:14:52
12 2015  Patrick Kipng'eno (KEN) 1:02:42  Purity Changwony (KEN) 1:11:17
13 2016  Reuben Limaa (KEN) 1:02:53  Betty Lempus (KEN) 1:12:26
14 2017  Felix Kibitok (KEN) 1:03:26  Valary Aiyabei (KEN) 1:11:04
15 2018  Mathew Kimutai (KEN) 1:04:57  Valary Aiyabei (KEN) 1:12:06
16 2019  Andrew Kwemoi (KEN) 1:01:52  Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 1:11:51
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[2]
17 2021  Vincent Ng'etich (KEN) 1:01:44  Peris Engambi (KEN) 1:12:59 [12]
18 2022  Daniel Simiu (KEN) 1:00:05  Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 1:09:58 [13]
19 2023  Justus Kiprop (KEN) 1:02:39  Jackline Chelal (KEN) 1:11:18 [17]
20 2024  Vincent Mutai (KEN) 1:03:27  Caroline Olbara (KEN) 1:11:06 [15]
21 2025  Joshua Kithuku (KEN) 1:02:35  Fridah Rerimoi (KEN) 1:14:23 [18]

Notes

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 h:m:s
  2. ↑ World Athletics' results database lists Dominick Kipkirui Bett as the 2024 men's winner in 2:13:13; this article follows two independent race-day reports naming Ronald Kimeli Kurgat as the winner in 2:13:05, with Bett finishing second.[15]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Nairobi Marathon". My Best Runs.
  2. 1 2 3 "Standard Chart Marathon cancelled due to Covid-19". The Star. 31 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Stanchart Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19 uncertainties". 31 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Nairobi Marathon returns after 2020 COVID-19 cancellation". Capital FM.
  5. 1 2 "Standard Chartered 2023 Nairobi Marathon cheque handover event". Femme Hub.
  6. ↑ "Inclusive Communities". Standard Chartered.
  7. ↑ "SCNM 2025 Prize Awards Press Release" (PDF). Standard Chartered.
  8. 1 2 "Kenya Running and Marathon Calendar". Fit Savanna.
  9. ↑ "Koech stuns field to win Eldoret City Marathon as Chesang claims women's title". Citizen Digital.
  10. ↑ "Marathon Prize Money". Nairobi City Marathon.
  11. 1 2 3 "SCNM Runners Guide 2026" (PDF). Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
  12. 1 2 "Kiprop, Kipketer win 2021 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon". The Standard. 31 October 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Chelimo, Chepkech win 'chaotic' StanChart Nairobi Marathon". Daily Nation. 30 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Kigen, Chirchir reign supreme in Stanchart Nairobi Marathon". Daily Nation. 29 October 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Ronald Kimeli and Gladys Chemutai triumph at Stanchart Nairobi Marathon". The Eastleigh Voice. 27 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon - Results". World Athletics. 26 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "Standard Chartered Nairobi Half Marathon & 10K - Results". World Athletics. 29 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon - Results". UltimateLIVE.
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