A record 1,000 runners turned out for the Standard Chartered Mombasa Satellite Run on Sunday, ahead of the 23rd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, scheduled for October 25 at Uhuru Gardens. The event saw Brian Kurgat and Eusilah Jemeli winning the 21km men's and women's races respectively. This year's participation in the Mombasa Satellite Run increased by 25 per cent compared with the 800 participants recorded last year.
The Mombasa Satellite Run featured three races—the 21km, 10km, and 5km—which started and finished at Mama Ngina Waterfront. The routes took runners through key parts of Mombasa, including Pandya Hospital, Fontanella Roundabout, Treasury Square, the Governor's Office, Coast Junior Academy, and Sea View Plaza. Winners across the other race categories were Martin Madinda and Sylvia Carson in the men's and women's 5km races respectively, and Duncan Komen and Gloria Bahati in the men's and women's 10km races respectively.
Special mentions went to 84-year-old Lalit Doshi, who completed the 10km race, and Amin Hussein, recognised among the fastest kids. David Mwindi, Chairperson of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Local Organising Committee, expressed enthusiasm for the event, saying it demonstrated the role of the marathon in bringing together communities beyond Nairobi through sport and initiatives that support social and economic development.
The strong turnout also showed that the marathon is about more than running; it is about bringing communities together around a shared purpose. Through the Standard Chartered Foundation, the marathon is working to create opportunities for young people, women, and people with disabilities to learn, earn, and grow. Mwindi added that the growth from 800 runners last year to 1,000 this year is encouraging, indicating that more runners at the Coast are embracing the opportunity to participate in the marathon series and prepare for the main race.
The Mombasa Satellite Run is part of a series of events leading up to the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, which is expected to bring together 30,000 participants, including runners from more than 100 nationalities and more than 400 elite athletes. The 2026 marathon has attracted a record Ksh 273 million in sponsorship, with Standard Chartered contributing Ksh 130 million and 56 new and long-term partners contributing a further Ksh 143 million.
Since its inception in 2003, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has attracted more than 345,000 participants and raised approximately Ksh 520 million through the Standard Chartered Foundation. The funds have supported programmes focused on employability, entrepreneurship, and skills development for young people, women, and persons with disabilities. Kurgat, the winner of the men's 21km race, said that winning in Mombasa has given him a good indication of where he is in his preparation for the Nairobi Marathon.
Kurgat aims to build on his performance and improve his time when he races in Nairobi. The event has demonstrated the growing interest in the marathon series, and organisers are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the Nairobi Marathon on 25 October. The marathon continues to be a significant event in the country's athletics calendar, promoting sports and social development.
Key points
- A record 1,000 runners participated in the Standard Chartered Mombasa Satellite Run.
- The 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has attracted a record Ksh 273 million in sponsorship.
- The marathon promotes social and economic development through initiatives supporting young people, women, and people with disabilities.
