More than 1,000 runners gathered at Karura Forest on Sunday for a 21km, 10km, 5km and 2km race as preparations intensify for the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
The Friends of Karura Anniversary Race brought together runners, families and members of the public, with participants combining fitness activities with efforts to promote the conservation of Karura Forest.
The Karura race is among several events being held as part of preparations for the 23rd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, which will take place on October 25 at Uhuru Gardens.
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and Africa Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Joyce Kibe, said the preliminary races provide an opportunity for participants to gauge their readiness before the main event.
“The warm-up races are an important part of the journey towards the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, giving runners an opportunity to test their preparation, build confidence and connect with fellow participants ahead of the main race,” Kibe said.
She said the turnout at Karura also demonstrated the ability of running events to bring communities together while supporting environmental conservation.
Friends of Karura Anniversary Race Operations Manager Peter Njui said the organisers appreciated the partnership with Standard Chartered and its contribution to the local running community.
“The warm-up races give runners an opportunity to prepare for the marathon while bringing people together around causes that matter to our communities,” Njui said.
Njui said the event also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting Karura Forest through continued collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service.
The 2026 Nairobi Marathon is expected to attract more than 30,000 participants representing 102 nationalities, including over 400 elite athletes.
Runners from countries such as Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil and Ethiopia are expected to take part in the event, adding to its international field.
Since the marathon was launched, more than 345,000 people have participated in the race, which has raised about KES 520 million for programmes supported through the Standard Chartered Foundation.
The programmes support employability, entrepreneurship and skills development, particularly among young people, women and people with disabilities.
This year's edition has attracted combined sponsorship of KES 273 million, with Standard Chartered providing KES 130 million and other partners contributing KES 143 million in cash and in-kind support.
The 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon will be held at Uhuru Gardens on October 25, with organisers expecting more than 30,000 runners to take part.
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