Nairobi Marathon
Race snapshot
Race Day
59–86°F · Feels mild
Total elevation gain
Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +0 ft
Participants
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Excellent spectator turnout
The Lowdown
The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon (SCNM) is Kenya's flagship road race, held annually in October in Nairobi. Now in its 23rd edition, the event draws 30,000+ participants from nearly 100 nationalities, making it one of Africa's premier long-distance running events. The course starts outside Carnivore on the Southern Bypass Road and finishes at Uhuru Gardens, taking runners through the heart of the Kenyan capital. The race holds World Athletics World Road Race Label status and has a total prize purse of KES 15 million. The 10km is the most popular category (12,855 finishers in 2025), while the full marathon attracts a strong elite field. Satellite events are held in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Since inception the event has raised over 520 million KES for charitable causes, with a 2026 fundraising target of 75 million KES. The sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank, has backed the race from the outset. Registration is done online via nairobimarathon.com.
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