Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2025 hits 16,500 registrations

The 22nd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has attracted over 16,000 participants in just one month of opening registrations, placing the event on course to meet its 30,000-runner target before the September 30, 2025, deadline.

Twenty elite athletes have already confirmed their participation across the different categories, including the 42km full marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km race and the 21km wheelchair race.

This year’s marathon is expected to attract 250 elite runners from Kenya and abroad, compared to 174 who competed in 2024.

So far, 363 international participants have registered for the race, which will take place on Sunday, 26 October 2025, at Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens.

In last year’s edition, over 1,600 of the more than 25,000 participants were international entrants.

The 2025 edition aims to raise over Sh70 million towards Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank’s global initiative that empowers young people, particularly women and persons with disabilities, with skills in education, employability and entrepreneurship.

In 2024, the marathon raised Sh48 million, which was directly invested into Futuremakers programmes.

“Registering over half the expected participants this early reflects the strong support from corporates and individuals who are not only backing a premier sporting event but also championing positive community change,” said David Mwindi, Chair of the Local Organising Committee.

The 2025 marathon will feature seven categories: the full marathon, half marathon, 10km race, 21km wheelchair race, the 5km Family Fun Run, the CEO Challenge and the Corporate Challenge.

This range of options underlines the marathon’s inclusivity, attracting elite runners, families and business leaders.

Since its inception, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has hosted more than 300,000 participants and raised over Sh850 million to fund life-changing initiatives across Kenya.

To elevate the race-day experience, the organisers have announced a number of improvements. For the first time, the 42km marathon will feature an exclusive finish-line channel for elite runners.

The 21km and 10km races will finish at different points inside Uhuru Gardens to reduce congestion, while the runner walk-off area after the finish has been expanded by 30 per cent to ensure better flow and safety.

“The upgrades we have introduced are all about giving participants a smoother, safer and more memorable race-day experience. From expanded finish areas and improved hydration services to better flow management, every detail has been carefully thought through to make this year’s marathon even more enjoyable for runners,” added Mwindi.

The medal and hydration team has also been strengthened, with the number of personnel increased to ensure adequate staffing and enhance service delivery.

"Integrity and compliance remain our top priority, with all elite athletes verified by Athletics Kenya. We also welcome the improvements undertaken by the Local Organising Committee, which will ensure the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is a fair, safe, and memorable experience for every runner," said Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei.