Kiptum, Rotich Crowned Champions as 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Draws Record 30,700 Runners
PHOTO: Abraham Kiptum winner of men’s 42km race at Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2026
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 25 – On a brisk morning along the Southern Bypass, framed by the sweeping backdrop of the Nairobi National Park, Abraham Kiptum and Mercy Rotich crossed the finish line to take the top honors at the 23rd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
While Kiptum and Rotich each bagged the coveted KES 2 million grand prize in the flagship 42km Full Marathon, the true headlines of the day belonged to the sheer scale, diversity and impact of the 2026 flagship event.
With over 30,700 registered runners from more than 100 nationalities, 400 elite athletes, and a unprecedented KES 273 million in sponsorship funding, the marathon demonstrated how sports tourism and corporate citizenship can converge into an engine for economic empowerment.
The competitive division brought fierce action across all main categories:
● 42km Full Marathon: Abraham Kiptum and Mercy Rotich dominated their respective divisions, securing the ultimate KES 2,000,000 winner’s purse.
● 21km Half Marathon: Nahason Kipsang and Orba Chemurgor clinched victory in the men’s and women’s events, each earning KES 300,000.
● 21km Wheelchair Race: Samuel Kuria and Mercyline Ajenjo showcased dominant displays, taking home KES 300,000 apiece in the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) division.
● 10km Road Race: Alfred Kimani and Joy Cheptoyek sped to victory, collecting KES 200,000 each.
● Team Competitions: Winners of the Corporate Relay and PWD Team categories were each awarded KES 100,000.
Overall, the event distributed a substantial KES 11.24 million prize purse to reward athletes across all categories.
A lucrative prize purse across all race categories, headlined by a KES 2,000,000 top reward for the champions of the flagship 42km Full Marathon.
The full marathon offered cash payouts up to tenth place, with the second and third-place finishers earning KES 1,000,000 and KES 500,000 respectively, followed by KES 150,000 for fourth, KES 100,000 for fifth, and a sliding scale ranging from KES 50,000 down to KES 10,000 for runners finishing sixth through tenth.
Winners of both the 21km Half Marathon and the 21km Wheelchair events took home KES 300,000, with runners-up receiving KES 150,000 and third-place finishers earning KES 100,000 in each category.
Meanwhile, the 10km Road Race awards KES 200,000 to the winner, KES 150,000 for second place, and KES 100,000 for third place, while the overall winner of the Corporate Relay / PWD Team category walked away with a KES 100,000 team prize.
The registration profile for the 2026 edition revealed a demographic shift in road racing participation. For the first time, female runners formed the majority of the field, comprising 51.5% (15,796 participants) compared to 48.5% male runners (14,904).
Furthermore, youth participation drove the momentum: ● Millennials: 50.6% (15,544 runners)● Gen Z: 33.1% (10,175 runners)● Gen X: 12.3% (3,782 runners)● Gen Alpha: 3.0% (920 runners)
With over 86% of participants aged 45 and below, the marathon has evolved from an elite athletic showpiece into an active lifestyle movement for young professionals. Demand was so intense that registrations were officially closed in July, months ahead of race day.
Beyond the podium finish, the marathon served as a massive fundraiser for economic transformation. Registration fees generated KES 76 million, bringing the total raised since the event’s inception to KES 596 million.
All proceeds will directly flow into the Standard Chartered Foundation, supporting youth development initiatives through education, entrepreneurship, and job training focusing heavily on young people and persons living with disabilities.
“This marathon brings the world to Nairobi and turns a shared passion for running into opportunities that last beyond race day. Runners from more than 100 nationalities demonstrate sport’s power to connect people; the funds they help raise support young people to build skills, find employment and grow businesses “,said Birju Sanghrajka, CEO, Standard Chartered Kenya.
“That is the legacy our runners, sponsors, partners and volunteers are building together”.
Participant wellness was supported by 19 hydration stations, roaming bicycle medical responders, dedicated muscle recovery zones, and post-race digital finisher certificates.
David Mwindi, Chairman of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Local Organising Committee said, The strength of an international marathon is not just the size of its field, but the quality of the experience and the integrity of the competition.
“From elite athletes chasing a podium place to recreational runners pursuing a personal goal, every participant deserves dependable suppor, Our focus was on getting the essentials right: accurate timing, medical care, hydration and recovery”.
“The marathon’s World Athletics Road Race Label reflects the standards upheld across course measurement, timing, medical support and anti-doping procedures. Working with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, selected top finishers underwent testing in line with race regulations, supporting fair competition and the integrity of the sport”, He added.
Environmental sustainability also took center stage.Every finisher was awarded a tree seedling as part of an initiative in partnership with Nairobi City County to plant 40,000 trees, coupled with race-day waste segregation and plastic reduction efforts.
