The Friends of Karura Anniversary Race was held in Karura Forest on Sunday, attracting over 1,000 runners who participated in various distances including 21km, 10km, 5km, and 2km. The event was a precursor to the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, set to take place on October 25 at Uhuru Gardens. The race was a family-friendly event that promoted sports, fitness, and environmental conservation.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 102 different countries, with more than 400 elite athletes taking part. The marathon has grown into a platform that combines sports, community participation, and social impact, attracting over 345,000 participants and raising approximately Ksh 520 million for programs supported through the Standard Chartered Foundation.
The 2026 marathon field will include athletes from Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil, and Ethiopia, among other countries. The event has secured record combined sponsorship of Ksh 273 million, with Standard Chartered committing Ksh 130 million and other sponsors contributing a further Ksh 143 million in cash and in-kind support.
Joyce Kibe, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and Africa, expressed pleasure at the strong participation at Karura, highlighting the event's role in bringing communities together through sport and around causes that matter. The marathon has been one of the bank's key sponsorships for years, providing support to the running community.
Peter Njui, Operations Manager, Friends of Karura Anniversary Race, emphasized the importance of the warm-up races in preparing runners for the marathon while promoting community engagement around causes that matter. The Friends of Karura Anniversary Race also celebrated Karura Forest and the work done with the Kenya Forest Service to protect and preserve the green space.
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has been a significant event in Kenya's sports calendar, promoting employability, entrepreneurship, and skills development for young people, women, and people with disabilities. The event has been supported by various sponsors, with the 23rd edition expected to be a major success.
The next event, the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, will take place on October 25 at Uhuru Gardens, with participants and athletes from around the world expected to attend. The marathon will provide a platform for runners to test their skills and for communities to come together in support of social causes.
Key points
- Over 1,000 runners participated in the Friends of Karura Anniversary Race.
- The 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 102 countries.
- The marathon has raised approximately Ksh 520 million for social programs through the Standard Chartered Foundation.
